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Mass Effect: Mercenaries

Alexa smirked dangerously at Kali. "Sorry, but you'll have to do better than that," Alexa threw her head playfully to the side. Beneath her relaxed, playful demeanor, Alexa was shaking from a multitude of emotions. Part of her wanted to hit Kali for making such a suggestion and effectively challenging Aria for power, while another part of her wanted to run and hide and escape the discomfort she felt. As much as she tried to hide it, Alexa was not exactly enjoying the direction the conversation had gone. It had never been on option to go against Aria like that, and now that the opportunity was presented to her, Alexa only felt the desire to blindly react with violence. She struggled to come up with something else to say in order to hide the fact that she was still incredibly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the enigmatic Client finally arrived. She compartmentalized the conversation temporarily, focusing her attention to the job at hand. Alexa had to cock an eyebrow when the Client revealed that he knew just about everything about all three of them. Alexa was less impressed that he knew about her; she was fairly well-known throughout the galaxy and was usually very open about her past. What caught her attention was his apparent knowledge of Ghost, or Michael as he had been called. Whoever he was, the Client apparently had an information source comparable to the Broker and the resources to stay as hidden as a dead Commander Shepard. Alexa chuckled silently at that. Aria had not particularly enjoyed the lengths she had gone to to not only locate the Commander's body, but to make sure that she had been approached by the real Commander Shepard.

In any case, Alexa decided it would be best to remain silent. Aria had sent her here to figure out whatever it is was being offered and take the offer if it was worth their time. Speaking out of turn would not exactly be conducive to a successful mission with those objectives in mind.

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

Alexa shifted uncomfortably. It was uncommon that she was faced with such open flattery, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Still, Alexa had asked the question first, and it was really only fair that she answer it herself, as well. She struggled for words briefly, as she debated how to go about this. "Well... Like I said before, I'm Aria's tool. For just about anything, I guess," Alexa drifted off weakly. Dammit, girl, shake it off. You've been through tougher shit than a flirty asari, Alexa sighed inwardly. Ironically, Alexa felt like the feeling of being uncomfortable made her more uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable was not a state of being Alexa was used to. Alexa straightened her posture up. It was all in the body language.

"You know how she is," Alexa shrugged, no longer showing signs of discomfort. "Aria's been my boss for six years now. I've been her right hand for about five and a half of them. I guess it helps that I was trained to follow orders without question. Not exactly my intended purpose when the Eclipse broke me in as a kid, but Aria knows how to work everything her way."

Alexa glanced at Ghost. She shook her head. Whatever he was doing in his little corner, she didn't really care. He wasn't openly a threat. Her attention reverted back to Kali. "It's funny. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the reason I signed with Aria was to save my own skin. That my undying loyalty to her hasn't always been around. That there was once a time," Alexa leaned in close, and began to whisper, "that she had to drag my sorry ass to her bed and I didn't willingly follow." She grinned suggestively, leaning back away from Kali. She gave a low chuckle, glancing at Ghost again. He was up to something, but it wasn't enough to make Alexa want to bother him again.

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

0Zeroes said (WE DO NOT KNOW SHE IS ALEXA YET, Calling her Alexa for sake of ease)

butbutbut... Alexa introduced herself right before she called Michael a pussy.

"Here I thought Aria was sending me for another easy job. Instead I get to play nice with you two. I'm Alexa." She let go of her Locust, but kept her singularity charged.

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

Alexa nodded. Ghost. Not a name she'd ever come across before. Put that together with the confrontation that had just occurred, and Alexa had almost everything she needed to know about this Ghost. Everything up to how well he holds his own in a firefight. Maybe later she'd try and find out if someone on Omega had some dirt on this guy, but that wasn't as much of a priority right now. Alexa folded her arms, taking note of Kali's apparent olive branch, in both her words and her body language. Not that Alexa was surprised; Aria's word alone almost had Alexa expecting Kali to align with her. Still, Alexa appreciated the gesture.

"Ghost. Alright," Alexa loosened up. Having sized up this unknown variable in the room, she felt significantly more comfortable. Everything was out in the open, and there was now a general agreement that nobody was going to die. Ghost wasn't quite the coldblooded bitch that Alexa was, but there was definitely something in him that piqued her interest. There was something about this guy that made him important; perhaps the fact that Alexa had never heard of Ghost was it. If he could be placed in the same room, in the same calibre, as Alexa and Kali and still be a complete unknown, that definitely stood out as something exemplary. Still, Alexa felt like she was going to have to push this Ghost to his breaking point to get the most out of him. Alexa nodded at Ghost, an unspoken signal that she approved. Ghost might not understand how the game worked in the mercenary world, but he'd learn quickly. Or someone like Aria would come along and tear him apart.

Kali, however, basically ran the game. Alexa and Kali had a similar pedigree - Eclipse, Aria, and some freelance work - but Kali had centuries of experience over Alexa. She didn't show it, but Alexa had to admit to herself that she was in awe of the asari. But, as Kali had said, there was a mutual level of respect there. Alexa turned to face Kali, keeping Ghost in the corner of her eye.

"So Aria's told me some things about you. You're part of a handful of people that I've ever heard her compliment, Kali. But she never went further than your work with her. So tell me," Alexa paused, selecting her words carefully. Aria had never divulged anything about what Alexa was about to ask, but Alexa knew enough about Aria to make the assumption. "How far did your relationship with her go? Was it purely business? Or were you as hopelessly indoctrinated as I am?" Alexa chuckled. Her remark came off as a joke, but it was true. Alexa was basically Aria's pet, at this point. It came with the territory of being an emotionally-broken-since-childhood assassin, Alexa figured.

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

MrDidact said If we can get anyone else to join that'd be best if Shadow can't post regularly. Maybe Zero can PM the other interested players?

there were a lot of people on the interest check, so that seems like a really good idea tbh.

MrDidact said Kali is filled with equal parts combat prowess and innuendo xD

this is going to be... interesting. I hadn't actually thought of how Alexa would handle that kind of situation. x)

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

MrDidact said Alexa did not seem like the promiscuous type, but you never knew and that never stopped Kali before. In her experience, the hard-assed ones could prove to be a lot of fun... She was definitely someone Kali wouldn't mind getting to know better. Kali wondered what it took to get Alexa to lower that steely exterior. Or if her time under Aria had taught her any skills not relating to martial prowess. Kali smiled internally at the thought.

I- oh.

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

he hasn't actually shown up on RPG at all since his CS went up, sooooo...

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

Alexa smirked. He had literally invalidated his own argument. "Shit, you're dumber than I thought. If we're gonna be a 'team,' dumbass, then you're gonna need to tell me who you are. I can't work with someone if I don't even know their fucking name," Alexa shook her head. She was about to let it go, when a thought crossed her mind. "I don't think you understand. There is no me. I'm nothing. I'm just a weapon. You haven't told me anything that I don't already know." Alexa stopped smiling. Her vindication backed up every word; Alexa truly believed everything she said. At this point, almost two decades of having her personality crippled and her brain broken down into nothing began to take over Alexa.

"Because you're right. Nobody's intimidated of me. I'm Aria's Fist for a reason. If you think I'm here for any reason other than Aria's will, then you're sadly mistaken. Everything I do is for one purpose, and that is Aria's benefit." When Alexa had finished, she realized she had inadvertently been charging a warp field in her hand. She smashed her palm closed, dissipating the warp field. Alexa was shaking; it wasn't often that she had to vocalize her role as Aria's Fist. It was normally something that was understood by everyone, and this was one of the few times Alexa found herself having to explain that to someone.

"So I'm gonna ask you again. Who are you, and why aren't you a complete waste of my time and Aria's resources?"

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

Alexa dropped her singularity. "I only kill when I'm threatened or when I'm told to. Neither condition has been met," Alexa returned. She began taking slow steps towards the two, eyeing them both carefully. She started with Kali, the Huntress. Everything Alexa knew about Kali she had heard from Aria. Alexa's boss always spoke highly of the legendary Huntress, and often compared Alexa with Kali. "You do things a little differently, but you both get the job done. Don't expect to be best friends with her. You're kind of a bitch, and she's a little bit less of a bitch. But you two would get along fine, I think," Aria had commented on Kali once. Alexa had to physically shake off the feeling of Aria's voice resounding in her head. Alexa nodded at the asari, "I like you. I've heard of you. I can work with you."

Then Alexa began circling around the unnamed helmeted one. She had no recognition of this man, nor did she think she had ever heard of him, and as such immediately began treating him as an unknown threat. Her mind raced, calling upon years of training. Sword, twin Shurikens, primary threat. Viper deadly but ineffective in such close quarters. Fighting style unknown, but he'd rather avoid a fight right now. Smart, or scared? She smirked. Alexa decided the best way to learn something about this one was to challenge him.

"You, however. I don't know you." Alexa quickly closed the gap between herself and the helmeted merc. She kept her hands well away from her weapons, posing no serious threat. "Shit, you sound like a pussy. I don't know what you did to grab the attention of whoever invited us here, but as of right now, you haven't proven your worth to me. I won't kill you. Not yet. But you'd better start giving me reasons to help your ass out if we find ourselves in trouble." Alexa stepped back, shooting a cold glare into the emotionless helmet in front of her. She stopped when she had a reasonable distance between Kali and the helmeted merc. "So who are you?"

Mass Effect: Mercenaries

"Aria sent me. Get out of my way."

"Who the hell is Aria? That name doesn't mean shit, bitch."

Alexa scoffed. The Eclipse may preach intelligence and deception, but there were a few humans in the Eclipse that completely ruined that reputation. Alexa examined the three mercs that stood in front of her; two asari and the human male blocking her way. The asari had recognized Alexa's name drop; they began stepping back and walking away. They nudged the human, motioning to leave. The human laughed at them.

"What, I'm supposed to accept this crap name drop? Please. Five hundred credits or you're not getting into the warehouses," the merc spat at Alexa. His hand moved towards his pistol slowly, in a clear but subtle threat.

"I'm tired of this. Ladies, if you please. Aria is grateful," Alexa motioned at the two asari mercs. They each grabbed the human by the shoulder, dragging him out of her way. Being Aria's tool, weapon, and plaything could be a drag, but it had its perks. Like this, for example. Alexa smiled sardonically at the Eclipse mercs. "Thank you, ladies. I'll see you around." Alexa entered the warehouse complex.

Within minutes, she had navigated her way to the warehouse she was looking for: warehouse 3-12. She pulled up the schematics of the warehouse on her omni-tool. Alexa had Aria's people scout the whole area electronically. It saved Alexa time and effort that she didn't really feel like putting in. Everything looked normal, but Alexa could clearly hear voices coming from inside the warehouse.

I didn't know this was going to be a party, Alexa thought, charging up a singularity field in her left hand while gripping her Locust in her right. Just in case. She stepped quietly into the warehouse.

Alexa scowled; from what she heard from the conversation, this wasn't a typical hit she had been hired for. This really was some sort of team job. She opened her mouth to speak, when a resounding voice pounded in her head, Remember why I'm sending you. Dammit, Aria. Alexa could be a galaxy away from the woman and her voice would be forever imprinted in Alexa's mind. The flashbacks and memories never ended.

"Here I thought Aria was sending me for another easy job. Instead I get to play nice with you two. I'm Alexa." She let go of her Locust, but kept her singularity charged.