[hider=Zenn'Valin vas Konesh nar Chayym]
[center][h1][color=0054a6]Zenn'Valin vas Konesh[/color][/h1]
[H3][I][color=0054a6]"Shadow"[/color][/I][/H3][/center]
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[color=0054a6]D O S S I E R[/color]
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[sub]Species[/sub]
[indent][sub]Quarian[/sub][/indent]
[sub]Homeworld[/sub]
[indent][sub]One day…[/sub][/indent]
[sub]Age[/sub]
[indent][sub]31[/sub][/indent]
[sub]Height/Weight[/sub]
[indent][sub]5’9”(175.26cm)/120lbs (54.43kg)[/sub][/indent]
[sub]Class[/sub]
[indent][sub]Infiltrator[/sub][/indent]
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[sub]Affiliation[/sub]
[indent][sub]Migrant Fleet[/sub][/indent]
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[color=0054a6]E Q U I P M E N T[/color]
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- M-97 Viper w/Piercing and Concentration I
- Arc Pistol I
- Omni-Blade I
- Enviro-suit (light armor)
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[color=0054a6]I N V E N T O R Y[/color]
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- Credits: 1115
- Medi-gel: 1 application
- Nutrient paste (he got some after all)
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[color=0054a6]P O W E R S[/color]
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- Enhanced Cloak III
- Sabotage I
- Tactical Scan II
- Operational Mastery II
- Arc Grenades I
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[color=0054a6]A P P E A R A N C E[/color]
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Like all quarians, Zenn’s physical appearance is unknown. Hidden under a midnight blue eviro-suit that he wears at all times. All that can be made out from behind his dark visor is the ultraviolet glow of his eyes. The back of his helmet down to his neck and chest are adorned with a cobalt colored “true-cloth” decorated in traditional quarian patterns. His right shoulder bears the insignia of the migrant fleet in white paint. This style and design was chosen mostly for practical application, as the dark matted colors and subtle patterns allow him to stay more easily hidden outside of cloak.

Another advantage he has is his small stature. Though average for a quarian, Zenn only reaches 5’9” and is very slim. Combined with his very cheery and optimistic demeanor he comes off as very non threatening. An effective way to ensure people feel safe approaching him, and enemies underestimate him.
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[color=0054a6]B A C K G R O U N D[/color]
[hider=History]
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Zenn’Valin nar Chayym was born August 27th 2155 aboard the Chayym life ship of the migrant fleet. His father was an exceptional botanist who oversaw a large portion of the food being grown in the ship. His mother was an engineer, one of the best in her field and poised to take the position of chief engineer when the current one retired. Both were well known and highly respected in their fields. When Zenn was born, many expected him to be a scientific prodigy like his parents, but by all means was an average child. He was decent with machines and technology, but never to a level that exceeded the norm. And when it came to botany he couldn’t even keep a single crop alive. 

He tried a number of other fields of study, but none of them ever clicked. He began to spiral into self-doubt, believing he would be a detriment to the fleet. A burden upon his people who couldn’t afford him. His parents were the ones who kept him grounded. They never stopped believing in him and continued to encourage him to keep trying. Their support helped him to gain confidence in himself and that as long as he never gave up, he would never truly fail.

When it came time for his pilgrimage Zenn left carrying only his Omni-tool, a pistol, his suit, and enough nutrient paste to survive a few weeks. His parents tried to make him take some credits, but he was insistent on earning everything on his own.

He began his journey on Illium. He figured with the booming industry there would no doubt be a place where someone with a quarian’s level of technical knowledge would be needed. Unless, of course, they were quarian. The harsh reality of the situation was that Zenn found adversity everywhere he went. At worst he was chased away by store owners before he even said a word. At best people were mistrusting and would simply tolerate his presence, but laughed at the idea of hiring him. He had been warned this was the way the galaxy treated the quarians, but to actually experience it was heartbreaking. All he wanted to do was prove he was someone of value, to both the galaxy and his people. Yet once again he had failed to do so.

Days became weeks, and with almost no food left, Zenn had to take the only job he could find. A parts and salvage warehouse that was the Illium equivalent of a scrap yard. Along with decommissioned or broken down ships, anything that crashed into the burning surface of the planet was basically free game for those with the equipment to retrieve them. Zenn’s job was to salvage the parts from all these ships and make sure as many of them were in working order as possible. The pay was barely enough for food and not even close to enough for an apartment. He was forced to live in the warehouse in a shelter he had constructed. It was very small and barely enough room for a bed, also constructed from scraped parts, but Zenn persevered. His parent’s voices echoing in his head to keep going. And compared to the cramped quarters on the Chayym, it was at least quiet. 

His luck finally turned around when he met a group of turian mercenaries. Ex-special forces called the Ghosts of Invictus who were looking to make some repairs on their ship The Dauntless. Zenn quickly offered up his services and was able to find or construct the parts they needed. He even installed everything and only charged them for the parts. The turians admired both his skill and hyperactive yet charming personality and invited him to a local bar for a drink as a thanks. Over drinks they exchanged stories, the turains explaining their name came from the fact they all originated from Invictus and why they all decided to leave the turian hierarchy in favor of the mercenary life. After hearing Zenn’s story and learning of his living conditions, the turians offered to bring him on board their ship. He was hesitant to join at first, but they convinced him they weren’t common thugs. They only worked security jobs and bounty hunting, nothing where they would be required to hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.

At first, he was just going to be their own personal mechanic. He would keep the ship running good as new with just repurposed scrap parts to considerably cut down the cost of repairs, and in return he would have proper meals and his own bunk. Over time they started opening up more to Zenn. He started picking up on their training and tactics, and they even started including him on their exercises. It was then that it all clicked. The young quarian discovered that the technical abilities he had when blended with combat application made him an incredible fighter. Combine all that with his small yet agile stature, Zenn developed into a quick and formidable forward scout.

The Ghosts were hesitant at first to allow him on missions, after all they knew how to operate comfortably with each other. Adding a new body, especially someone so green, could throw off their game. However, after an almost botched job was saved when Zenn was able to keep up with and capture a rather elusive bounty, he was made an official part of the team and was regularly brought along for jobs.

Zenn continued to hone his skills with the mercenaries following all of their instructions. Every job was a learning experience to build upon his abilities crafting himself into a master of stealth and recon. Silently surveying a perimeter to make sure there were no threats lying in wait. Following a mark close enough to keep them in constant view while staying completely out of their sight. One of his squadmates once made the remark "Zenn doesn't meld with the shadows, he becomes one." The phrase led to the others giving him his moniker.

It wasn’t all good times, of course. Running security meant there were attempts on the lives of those they were protecting, and some bounties would rather die than be taken into custody. Despite how they operated, the life of a mercenary inevitably involved death, and the quarian would have to learn how to live with that.

After three years of running with the Ghosts, he decided he was ready to return to the Migrant fleet. He had saved up enough credits to buy a ship of his own starfighter, and would offer it as his gift. It was an emotional goodbye, well, as emotional as one could get with a group of turians, but they all understood that it was time for Zenn to return home. They escorted him to the fleet and in their final goodbyes Zenn promised that if they ever needed him, he would always answer the call.

Coming back with a brand new ship of any size as his gift earned Zenn high praise from the admiralty. It was guaranteed he’d be accepted to whichever ship he chose. His only request was to join the Heavy Fleet so that he could continue using what he learned and share that knowledge with the quarian military. After much consideration he requested to join the Konesh and was immediately accepted. He was officially made Zenn’Valin vas Konesh in 2178.

Zenn spent the next five years serving diligently in the quarrian military. Most missions were very routine: An asteroid or small planet rich in minerals would be found, scans would confirm if it was claimed, and if not the fleet would probe away. But if an anomaly was detected, a team of marines would be dispatched to investigate. Zenn was one of the most frequent volunteers on these missions. After all, it was his job. He would often occupy his old role as team scout, able to quickly survey ahead for any dangers and retreat back to his squad with a full analysis. And in the rare situations he was caught, he could more than hold his own while he waited for backup.

It was a stressful job, but Zenn thrived in it. If anything, it was the down time that rattled him the most. Back with the Ghosts his down time was spent working on the ship, but now there were entire teams of engineers who were more equipped and trained for that job. This led to his downtime being a lot of extra training, looking for things to do, or checking in with his parents. And the longer the time between missions was, the more he felt that he was wasting space. But things wouldn’t stay that way much longer.

In 2183, reports began surfacing of geth activity outside the Perseus Veil. Panic spread through the fleet like an airborne virus. Speculations on what this could mean. Heated debates on if the quarians should get involved. Everyone had formed an opinion and they were vocal about it. Zenn was among the crowd calling for action from the admiralty board. The geth were the quarian’s responsibility after all. They should be the ones to investigate what was going on and put a stop to it.

The arguing escalated further after a young quarian by the name of Tali’Zora returned from her pilgrimage with a large collection of geth data. Now potential knowledge of the geth’s capabilities, and the revelation of the reaper threat, more and more quarians demanded action only now it was to retake the home world and put an end to the geth.

By 2185, Zenn’s talents were being called upon more frequently than ever. With the new information about the geth, the migrant fleet had turned its focus to uncovering more geth technology. This required constant need for ground teams, especially those who specialized in getting in and out as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, the debates had reached their peak with the Alarei incident. Though he did not know her personally, Zenn was a firm believer that Tali’Zora was no traitor. However, his stance on the matter of retaking Rannoch were conflicting. Of course he wanted to stop the geth from expanding. They were a threat to the galaxy especially after allying with a reaper. But to wipe them out completely? It would take a military might unheard of before. And even then, it would leave the quarians in an extremely vulnerable state. It did not seem tactically wise. But Zenn would follow through no matter what plan was chosen.

By 2186, the admirals had made their decision: the quarians had declared all out war on the geth. Though Zenn disagreed, the orders would be carried out regardless. Instead he redirected his mind to focus on one thing; making sure as many quarians survived as possible.

His main contributions came in the destruction of geth relay stations. Instead of sending waves of ships at each station and risk larger scale battles, the quarians would send a single ship with a small team to sabotage the stations. Without the boosted signal from the stations, nearby geth would have a much weaker connection to hive mind and a drastically reduced processing power. This paved the way for the fleet to push the geth back to Tikkun, and even destroy the geth mega sphere. The fleet managed to reach Rannoch in prime fighting condition, only for the geth to once more call upon their reaper friends for help.

With the reapers' aid, the migrant fleet's push was completely halted. The two factions were now trapped in a stalemate above Rannoch, waiting for someone to make the next and final move. Thanks to a slight advantage gained by the famous commander Shepard, the quarians decided they would finish what they started. When the day of the final assault came, Zenn was prepared for the ultimate fight against the geth. He along with most of the other marines figured this would more than likely be their final mission as the geth would fight until the last unit was destroyed. To say he was shocked when the order to standby came in would be an understatement. There was mass confusion among the troops as to why they weren’t pressing the attack, when finally the news broke. Commander Shepard had brokered peace between the geth and the quarians. Rannoch was theirs again, and the geth would welcome them. Zenn is not ashamed to admit he broke down in tears. Overjoyed that his people finally had a home. But deep down he knew it wouldn’t be his home. Not yet, at least. There was still one last job to be done, and he wasn’t about to quit now

With Rannoch reclaimed and the geth now allies, the admiralty still had a deal to uphold with commander Shepard and humanity. They would join the fight against the reapers. Before he left, Zenn contacted his parents as they landed on Rannoch. It was emotional on both sides as neither were sure he was coming back, but he let them know he couldn’t be happier that they had finally made it home, and that one day he hoped to see it himself. In return they told him how proud of him they were. That they always knew he was capable of greatness. And that as long as he never gave up, he would make it back to them.

With his possibly final goodbyes made, Zenn and the quarian military moved to the crucible, awaiting the orders to begin the assault on Earth. If only things were even that simple.

Just as the teams were finally assembled, the reapers struck a devastating blow and captured the Citadel. It was now floating above the Earth, almost as if the reapers were taunting them.

Time was not on their side. They had to strike fast and hard to get the crucible in place. The mission briefing from the admirals was quick and while there were no easy roles, it was assumed any that were assigned to hammer squad wouldn’t be coming back. Zenn volunteered without hesitation.

It was touch and go for the first half. Getting any ships past the reaper line was no small feat. Miraculously he and a handful of quarian marines slipped through to the planet side and made it to the rally point with the coalition of all the races in the galaxy that made up hammer squad. Zenn felt the same adrenalin and dread that had built up just before Rannoch. The same anticipation knowing this could be the end of everything. Only this time, they were not told to standby. No sudden peace was made with the reapers to avoid this carnage. Instead, the order was given. It was time to move out.

What followed was hell in the most pure meaning. Every inch of their path was earned in blood. Husks and friendlies fell in every direction he looked. Zenn’s finger never left the trigger. Clip after clip was loaded in as his guns ran hotter than ever. Every breath was followed by a bullet. They pushed forward with everything they had. Against every odd, they drew closer and closer to the finish line. Just as victory seemed attainable; Harbinger appeared.

Zenn watched helplessly as hammer was torn to shreds. All hope Zenn had left faded away. His last memory was that horrific sound before the beam of red death fell upon him. Zenn was fast. He narrowly avoided direct contact, but he did not see it hit the demolished structure next to him. The building crumbled around Zenn and everything went dark.

When Zenn came to, he found himself in an Alliance Medical facility. A search and rescue team had found him buried in the rubble. He had suffered a number of fractures, had several infections from punctures in his suit, and his vitals were weak. but he was alive.

The staff decided not to sugar coat it and gave him the news right away. The good: The reapers were defeated and the galaxy was saved. The bad: The mass relays had been destroyed, and the Migrant fleet along with most of the other fleets retreated from the battle before it was too late.

The feelings running through Zenn’s body were indescribable. On one hand he was overjoyed at the news. They had won. Just when he had finally lost hope victory was achieved by a united galaxy. But on the other hand, his people had abandoned him. Would he ever get to set foot on Rannoch? Would he ever see his parents again? Everything was uncertain. Until he got out of his head long enough to see what was around him. Earth was still in ruin. The Sol system was in complete anarchy, and the humans needed all the help they could get. Rannoch could wait.

After five weeks Zenn was fully recovered and fit for duty, but he wasn’t sure where to go. He couldn’t exactly enlist in the Alliance Navy, and most other projects were humanitarian efforts that didn’t need soldiers. However, the medical staff gave him the information for one group that could use him: the Sol Restoration Network.

Now working with a motley crew of specialists, stuck in an unfamiliar system with nothing but his Omni-tool, a pistol, his suit, and a sniper, Zenn couldn’t help but note it was just like old times. And all things considered, he was much happier with the sniper than the nutrient paste.
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[color=0054a6]M O T I V A T I O N[/color]
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Throughout his entire life, Zenn has been driven by one word: Contribute. In his eyes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and it is the duty of everyone to do their share. Whether it be a small community or the whole of the galaxy, no one should be looking out for just themselves or mooching off the work of others. Of course, how much one can handle is up to the individual. And Zenn would never deem someone as lazy or selfish for not pulling the same weight as others. No task is too small. No skill is useless. As long as you are doing something to better the world around you, then you are a welcome addition. 

As such, Zenn holds himself to these standards. If there is a job to be done, he is the first to volunteer. If someone needs assistance, he’s ready to lend a helping hand. He may come off as desperate at times, even overbearing. But it comes from a place of genuine care. He wants to be part of the solution, not the problem.

This thinking is also how he copes and justifies his actions as a soldier. Every escaped criminal brought in allows justice to be served. Every bandit he kills is one less potential threat to worry about. Every cerberus nut or batarian terrorist shot down makes peace between races slightly easier to attain. In the end, it doesn't matter if they chose that path or were always destined to walk it. If they prioritize their own needs over the safety and well being of others, then Zenn will see to it that society is no longer burdened with their existence.

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[color=0054a6]F L A W S[/color]
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Workaholic: Zenn has always had an overwhelming need to be an asset, but he doesn’t know when to take a break. The last thing he wants is to feel as though he's a burden to those around him, and being stranded in a foreign system that’s struggling to rebuild and maintain order has left Zenn feeling his very presence is a nuisance. He will constantly be volunteering for jobs even if his plate is full, or he’s in no condition to work. And the longer he goes without an assignment, the antsier he will get.

Immunocompromised: As a quarian, Zenn is extremely susceptible to any sort of sickness. He must be wearing his enviro-suit at all times and even then a single germ slipping through his filtration system could leave him bedridden with an infection or fever.

Poor Money Management: One would think with Zenn constantly working he would at least have the credits to show for it; and yet he consistently only has a few hundred to his name at any given time. This isn’t due to any bad shopping habits or addictions. Zenn just isn't very concerned about money that he often forgets to check the price tag before he pulls the trigger. He'll take a job without discussing the payment, take on "necessary" debts despite ridiculous interest rates, and what debts he's owed he'll usually waive or forget to collect on. It's just a good thing he's learned to live a very minimalistic life.
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[color=0054a6]M I S C[/color]
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Zenn has an Omni-Tattoo of the Ghosts of Invictus' logo on his left shoulder.

Vegetarian, but mostly due to his upbringing. No livestock on the flotilla. 

Is a surprisingly good singer. Great for parties (if you can get him there.)
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[hider=Opinions]
Amina Galal | [color=ffb302]Rogue[/color]
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[indent]Amina hit Zenn with a briefcase and still hasn’t apologized.
[indent][sub]↳[i]To be honest, Amina disappoints me. Don't get me wrong; she has shown to be a capable soldier and dependable teammate. I’ve been glad to have her on each assignment so far, but her views on other species makes it hard to get along with her. Hard to trust someone who talks as though you are beneath them. It reminds me a lot of how people used to treat me on my pilgrimage. You’d think after everything with the reapers and the whole galaxy coming together she’d realize we're all on the same side. Still, after taking down the Reds, I think I can say she loves humanity more than she hates aliens. That’s probably enough for her to keep working with us. For now… 

↳Update after Sunset’s mission: I admit, I may have been wrong about Amina. Going on a mission to help an asari and a turian save another asari, and one that could potentially pose a threat on Earth, then defending Nadara’s actions! It tells me she’s not just here for humanity’s sake, but is actually looking out for her team. Maybe I let her past with Cerberus cloud my judgment. I hope she continues to surprise me like this.[/i][/sub][/indent][/indent]

Zenobia Vartius | [color=007236]Lunatic[/color]
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[indent]Zenobia crashed a borrowed van despite Zenn’s protests and still hasn’t apologized.
[indent][sub]↳[i]Zenobia is a wildcard. She is completely reckless and seems to act on impulse more than anything. Someone like her would in no way be tolerated in the marines or any military for that matter. Luck for her, this is a mercenary outfit. And while I hate to admit it, there is some benefit to her insanity. If we can’t predict her next move, neither can the enemy. Everything she does is a ‘surprise attack’ if you will; something us infiltrators definitely understand the value of. Regardless, I still worry one day she’ll go too far and someone else is going to suffer for it. 

↳Update after Sunset’s mission: I stand by what I said before, but looking back, I may have been too harsh in my initial thoughts. Zenobia had very good insight into Eclipse tactics, not surprising seeing as she was one, but it shows that she at least understood their logistics and how they operated. Couple that with the fact she went with Nadara to rescue Janiri, and I think it’s safe to say that Zenobia isn’t as reckless and impulsive as I thought.[/i][/sub][/indent][/indent]

Solveig Wistrom | [color=662d91]Wraith[/color]
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[indent]Solveig has not done anything to Zenn yet and does not need to apologize.
[indent][sub]↳[i]The strong and silent type; Solveig let’s her actions speak for her. Which is good because she seems to have trouble with words. Doesn’t really matter as her rifle does most of the talking, and even without it she is more than capable of getting the job done. I definitely look forward to working with her more. Though I have a sneaking suspicion she’s not. Nothing personal, of course, just get the feeling she’s more of a “lone wolf” type. Afterall, during the first briefing she decided her course of action then vanished without further discussion. Not exactly a move you’d see from a team player.

↳Update after Shadow’s mission: I’m going to be admitting I was wrong a lot here, but it’s especially true with Solveig. I had taken her distant approach to us to mean she was someone who flew solo and didn’t care to be on a team. But I have come to realize that she is one of the biggest team players I’ve met. Her earlier behavior was mostly due to how socially awkward she is… Wait a second, is that what Awks means? I need to tell Kysar I just got that! That is hilarious!

In any case, She is a protective soul. Someone who would wrestle a brute just to keep it away from her friends. And if you do something she doesn’t agree with, she’ll let you know in her own way. I’m lucky to call her a friend, and I hope we can help her to open up more. Even with what little she says we all enjoy her company. She can be really funny even when she doesn’t mean to be. And she’s really strong. Like bending steel strong! And she’s really pretty… Wait what was I saying? Is it getting hot in here?[/i][/sub][/indent][/indent]

Nadara V’Lanis | [color=82ca9d]Sunset[/color]
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[indent]Nadara made Zenn dig through a dumpster and adopt a dog and still hasn’t apologized. 
[indent][sub]↳[i]How do I put this nicely? Nadara is both a clever tactician able to direct the squad when a decision needs to be made, but she is also the biggest absent minded airhead I’ve ever worked with. It’s like she rarely has a thought in the pretty green head of hers, but when she does you’d be wise to listen to her. Maybe the airheaded part is a trick? A tactic to make us and others underestimate her. Or it’s the other way around, and she just has so much charm that we’re fooled into thinking her plans are good ideas. Whatever she’s doing, it seems to be working since we’re all still alive… Well, mostly. 

↳Update after Sunset’s mission: I was only partially right about Nadara. She is clever, but not in a tactical way. She knows how to get a job done, and my initial concerns about her being careless were proven incorrect, but I don’t know that she thinks very much beyond what is immediately in front of her. She gave up Janiri without a second thought about what it would do to the team, but then rescued her with that exact same disregard for her mother. I promised I would stop making assumptions with her, so I will leave it at that. I just hope she and Kysar can patch things up eventually. [/i][/sub][/indent][/indent]

Kysar Proctus | [color=800000]Venator[/color]
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[indent]Kysar took down Weisman which probably saved Zenn and Sevipia and Zenn still hasn’t thanked him.
[indent][sub]↳[i]I don’t know much about Kysar, but seeing his anger unleashed at the Reds told me quite a bit. He may not act like it, but he cares about his comrades. Learning what happened to his old squad, then seeing his new squad getting injured, it set him off in a rage. Even after the dust settled he nearly tried to kill our captive. Thankfully he still had enough of his senses to listen to Sol and Sev and backed down. Not that I’d blame him if he didn’t. The ax'kah didn’t deserve mercy and is only alive because of the intel he has. That being said, Kysar’s fury could be dangerous. If left unchecked it could consume him. But if he can learn to control and harness it, he’d become a force to be reckoned with.

↳Update after Shadow’s mission: The one person I wasn’t wrong about despite what he might say. I won’t deny that Kysar is a bit rough. He’s been hardened by battles both physical and mental. I don’t even want to speculate what he’s done to get through it all, but it’s clear he feels immense guilt for it. Maybe he tries not to let people in because he doesn’t feel worthy... Something I can relate to... But unfortunately for him, he can’t seem to help but get close. The way he jumped to take point for the team, how he directed the quarian squad in taking down the reaper device, he is constantly using his skills and knowledge for the benefit of others. 

Personally, I feel as though he grows attachments to others fast and will do anything to protect or avenge them; especially if it prevents them from making the same mistakes he has. I know he still sees himself as a horrible person who has done bad things, but I hope we can make him see differently.
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In the depths of the terminus system, a small turian ship rested idly in the void of space. Its crew had just returned from a failed mission and had been assembled on the bridge. Their commander, a tall and proud turian wearing black armor, paced back and forth in front of them. A silent rage etched into his scared face as he pondered how to proceed. Across from the crew was another turian, the ship’s second in command. She was clad in burnt orange armor with tattoos of the same color across her face. She held a fierce gaze at the crew, glaring daggers at each of them, but there was one turian in particular her eyes kept drifting back to. One that appeared far more agitated than the others. The crew were doing their best to keep their nerves steady as they stood at attention. All of them knew why they were here, but none dared to even twitch wrong while their leader was in this state. The tension had built until it could be cut with a knife when at last, the commander stopped and faced his squad. 

[color=999999]“We tracked that bounty for eight. Weeks. We knew his routines. The perfect ambush set. We had everything planned and accounted for. So how the fuck did he get away?”[/color] The turian’s voice boomed past the bridge and echoed through the entire ship. [color=999999]“Answer me! Which one of you fucked this up?”[/color] He waited a few beats for someone to break, but they simply remained still. No one dared to speak up. A soft smile grew on the commander’s face. At least he knew his team had each other’s backs. [color=999999]“No one? Heh. Alright. I admire you sticking together, but this little screw up has seriously cost us. I’ll give you one more chance. If no one fesses up, then I’m docking the full amount from each of you!”[/color]

Once more, none of the crew moved. None of them could make eye contact with their commander, but they refused to speak. They knew where things had gone wrong, but they weren’t going to toss one of their own under the bus even if it meant they were all going down for this. They all remained as stoic as they could while the turian behind the commander continued to glare at one specific person in the line. Watching her squirm. Waiting for her to finally break and admit-

[color=0054a6]“Commander Septis.”[/color] A filtered voice came from the far end of the line. All heads jolted to see the ship’s quarian step forward. [color=0054a6]“It.. It was me. I was supposed to cut off the mark and chase them into our trap, but I missed my signal and he was able to slip past me. I’m sorry, sir…”[/color]

[color=999999]“Is this true?”[/color] Septis barked at the crew. All of them were petrified in shock. The nervous crewmember was especially stunned as she stood there with her jaw hanging open. The second in command’s eyes were wide and her face began to twitch as she held back an unforeseen fury that had boiled inside her. With no one contesting the quarin, Sepsis could only assume he was telling the truth. His eyes narrowed as he stormed over to the quarian.

[color=999999]“Zenn.”[/color] Septis growled through his teeth. Zenn could feel the turian’s eyes peering into his very soul as he stared down at him. [color=999999]“We took you in, trained you, let you work jobs with us, and this is how you repay us? This was the biggest job we had in months and you blew it! You’re gonna be paying for all the credits we missed out on, and if you [i]ever[/i] pull something like this again I’m tossing you back in that scrap heap we found you in. Understood?”[/color]

[color=0054a6]“Yes, sir!”[/color] Zenn acknowledged without question or hesitation. 

[color=999999]“Good.”[/color] Septis took a step back and turned to look at the others. [color=999999]“Zenn. You stay put. The rest of you are dismissed."[/color]

—

After a long lecture about vigilance, duty, responsibility, and working out a payment plan, Zenn emerged from the bridge. It was hard to tell behind his mask, but he was oddly satisfied for someone who had just been berated by his boss. As he walked down the steel halls of The Dauntless, he noticed an unusual silence in the air. Of course, after the day they had all been through, Zenn assumed everyone else had gone to bed. He figured he would do the same and made his way to his own bunk. That is, until his path was suddenly blocked as the second in command appeared from the shadows in front of him. The same pissed off look she had before was still plastered on her face. Zenn knew what was coming, but attempted to play it cool.

[color=0054a6]“Oh. Hey, Acinia. Did you need something-”[/color] Zenn tried to politely greet his superior, but was interrupted when her hand wrapped around his neck and slammed him against the wall. 

[color=cc5500]“You!”[/color] Acinia slowly lifted Zenn up to her eye level as she spoke. [color=cc5500]“How [i]dare[/i] you lie to Septis like that! We all know Sildna was the one who fucked things up! She needed to take responsibility for her mistakes! Not have some runt bail her out! What are you trying to pull, huh?”[/color]

Zenn tried to answer, but the words just wouldn't come out. Mostly because his windpipe was currently being crushed by a 6 foot 4 colossus who could snap him like a twig if she desired. Weakly, he tapped on Acinia’s arm, and pointed to his neck. The turian glared at Zenn. A small part of her thought about tightening her grip, but relented in the end and released her grasp. Zenn dropped to the ground and started to regain his breath.

[color=0054a6]“I… Was just… Helping my teammate.”[/color] Zenn managed to get out between deep breaths. He started rubbing his neck to try and ease the pain. [color=0054a6]“Sildna knows… She messed up… But she needs the money more than me… Her family on Invictus depend on it…”[/color] Zenn pulled himself up, doing his best to stand. 

Acinia scoffed and rolled her eyes. [color=cc5500]“Sildna is a grown woman and a veteran at that. She doesn’t need some pipsqueak like you coming to her rescue. What? Do you think you’re some kind of savior now? That taking the fall for someone else will suddenly make us forget how pathetic you are? Just wait until Septis finds out you tricked him. He’s going to toss you out the fucking airlock.”[/color]

[color=0054a6]“Funny.”[/color] Zenn smirked, able to articulate normally again. [color=0054a6]“I didn’t hear any of them correct me back there. Come to think of it, neither did you. Huh. If you ask me, I think you’re fine with hiding the truth from Septis as well.”[/color]

Acinia lunged forward and slammed her fist into the wall, missing Zenn’s head by an inch. [color=cc5500]“You want to say that again, suit rat? You think you can talk to me like that, you insubordinate cur?[/color] She pressed her fist into the small dent she had created as she leaned in close, snarling at the quarian. [color=cc5500]“Don’t act like you’re one of us! You might be working jobs with us now, but that doesn’t make you part of our squad. You’re just a pathetic sap the commander took pity on!”[/color]

Zenn remained stoic. Unflinching even with Acinia in his face as he fired back. [color=0054a6]“I didn’t do this for your approval, Acinia. Or anyone’s for that matter. I did this because my friend needed help and I could take the hit. I know you don’t approve of me being on the team, or even on this ship. You’ve made that very clear. But let me make this clear.”[/color] Zenn held a firm gaze, matching her own hostile stare. Despite her large stature and the fact she already showed herself to be much stronger than him, he held his ground. [color=0054a6]“Everyone here is just as much my squad now as they are yours and I am always going to defend them! Hell if it were your ass on the line, I still would have taken the fall! Because being part of a team means having each other's back no matter what. So go ahead, rough me up all you want! Call me names and act like I’m beneath you, I don't care! But you better get used to me being around because I’m a ghost now whether you like it or not! Understood?”[/color] If she wanted a fight, he was going to give her one. She had been knocking him around since he was first brought on board. Even if she technically out ranked him, he was done letting her treat him like trash. 

The two remained unwavering, locked in a staring contest, until Acinia finally let out a disgruntled growl and pulled herself away. She turned her back on the quarian and started to walk away, but stopped only after a few steps.

[color=cc5500]“Hey, pipsqueak…”[/color]  She called to him without looking back. [color=cc5500]”How long does it take you to get out of your suit?”[/color] 

[color=0054a6]“...Excuse me?”[/color] Zenn replied, completely caught off guard by the seemingly random question.

[color=cc5500]“I know you quarians have to prep and stuff. So how long does it take?”[/color]

Zenn was confused. He had no idea how this topic was relevant, but if questions about his species were her way to dispelling the tension, he’d be happy to go along with it. [color=0054a6]“Uhh… Well we'd have to take some strong antibiotics and supplements then wait for them to take effect so... 30 minutes? Maybe an hour? But even then it’d have to be a sterile environment and I couldn’t be out for more than-”[/color]

[color=cc5500]“Good.”[/color] Acinia cut him off, not really caring to hear the rest. [color=cc5500]“Then in 30 minutes, meet me in my quarters.”[/color] She said almost as if she was giving an order.

[color=0054a6]“Wait what?”[/color] Zenn stood there, frozen and dumbfounded as he tried to process what was being requested.

Acinia looked back at him over her shoulder [color=cc5500]“You heard me. Now get moving and don’t keep me waiting.”[/color] She grumbled and stormed off. Leaving Zenn to piece together what was being asked of him.

[color=0054a6]“Wait but… are you telling me to… are we… what is happening?”[/color]

[hr]


The dream ended as Zenn’s eyes slowly opened; woken up by the sunlight as it peered from the window of his room. Immediately he was flooded with the consequences of his actions from last night. His head was pounding, stomach churning, and his knees were aching. Every inch of him was in turmoil, but it wasn’t just the hangover karaoke stunts inflicting him. Last night, he had finally pushed himself to ask out someone he had strong feelings for. Yet the first dream he had didn't involve Sol, it was about his ex… Fantastic… 

Still, now that he was thinking about it. He wondered what Acinia and the ghosts were up to. Surely they had survived the reapers and were stuck somewhere in the galaxy same as him. Just. Hopefully not in the same system.

In any case, it didn't matter right now. He needed to focus on getting up and start prepping for the next mission. Cursing all forms of liquor as his head throbbed with his every move, Zenn carefully sat up in his… Bed? Wait, where was he? Whose room was this? How did he even get here? He remembered talking with Sol on the couch, but after that… Nothing. Did… did something happen with her?

Zenn just sat there motionless. He was in terrible pain, was dealing with some mixed emotions, and had no idea where he even was…

[color=0054a6][i]...This is why I hate parties.[/i][/color]
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