Ghost Town

"Hey, she's a better leader than the Turian" Quill quips albeit teasingly so making it clear he had settled his issues with Ryder... or was putting them aside for the moment.

"Yes ma'am"

*Syn leads them into the stairwell, running past the floors that Ryder and Gazelle covered and running into the first one that they didn't. She goes in slowly.*

Syn: "Spread out and search for...well, any clue as to get out of here safely..."

*Downstairs, Jade has started stirring again in Quill's arms.*

Ryder: "Glad to hear it. We were herded into a building and activated the security lockdown. We're working on finding a way out and we'll join you at the mines."


Krast: "Once we make sure these people are safe, I'll join you."

Linox: "I can activate security measures here to protect them, but no telling how effective they will be and how long they'll keep them safe..."

Gazelle nods and begins his search.

---

Quill notices that Jade is starting to wake up.

"Understood, Ryder. Take care of yourself out there," With that, Noct severed the link. She then looked at Krast, "I want you to stay here Krast, these people need someone with their interests in mind, someone they trust, and someone they listen to."

--

Mortab does just that.

Krast: "Damn....I was looking forward to bashing some ape heads, but I guess you're right. So what's your plan? You can't just charge out there."

Linox: "These security checkpoints are connected by underground tunnels... we could move undetected to one closer to the mines."

Striker: "Except, we haven't secured the tunnels, there's no telling what you'll find under there."


*Ryder looks over at Jade as she starts to wake up.*

Jade: "What's going on?"

Ryder: "You spazzed. But currently, we're trying to find a way to the mines."


*Mortal's search yields no results. Gazelle only finds a heavy, locked door. Sab notices, on the north side of the building, a few floors up is a bridge connecting the building to its sister building across the street.*

"What do you think's behind this door?"

---

"What Ryder said. You lost control of your biotic powers in your sleep and let out a biotic blast."

"True, but we know exactly what we'll find out there," Noct said, "Is there a way to survey the tunnels?"

--

Sab returns to Syn, "I think I found us a way out. If we can make it across the bridge to the other building we should be able to exit through there without worrying about what is in this building."

Mortal walks over towards Gazelle, "I don't know. The odds of it being important are pretty nil though."

*Ryder heads to the bented metal that once blocked the windows and peered outside. The streets are deserted, but that's the kind of tactic he would use. No doubt these monkeys could do the same. Jade clutches her head and tries to stand up.*

Jade: "I...I thought those had stopped..."

Ryder: "Don't blame yourself, I'd be surprised if any of us make it out of this completely sane."


*Syn joins Sab at the window and looks up.*

Syn: "No telling what's in that building, but it may just be our best bet. Good job."

*She walks back to Gazelle and looks over the door.*

Syn: "Only one way to find out. Think you're strong arms could pry this thing off?"


Striker: "We have a semi-fuctioning security drone."

Linox: "Semi-functioning?"

Striker: "We can't get the assault functions to work, so it'd be useless in a fight, but it still works."

Linox: "I like the idea of investigating from a distance. I could easily program the drone to patrol the tunnels and relay a video feed back."

Krast: "That thing's a piece of old tin. You'd be lucky if you could get it to feed back, let alone being able to see anything. Could just waste our time, which we don't have a lot of these days."

Gazelle grins, "With pleasure" then takes a few steps back and cracks his knuckles before hitting the door with a single punch. That punch alone is enough to bust the door clean off its frame and leave a crater like dent where his fist impacted.

Strength like a Krogan indeed.

---

"Happens to the best of us biotics. Don't dwell on it too much Jade." Quill helps her stand.

Zell put on a smug grin, "You know, give me a couple minutes with that drone and I'll have it doing cart wheels for you."

--

Mortal and Sab both readied their weapons, and peered into the room. Mortal was particularly impressed with the display of power.

Jade: "It...hasn't happened for years. This place...isn't right."

Ryder: "The streets are clear, but there's no telling what's laying in wait..."

*Ryder returns and scans Jade with his Omni-Tool.*

Ryder: "You're really weak. That biotic blast must have really taken it out of you..."


*Syn biotic lifts the door and tosses it aside. She pulls on her recon hood and walks inside. The room is a massive breeding lab. Breeding tanks line the walls and various advanced research equipment take up the floor. Inside are the fossils that are referenced in the data Noct's team found. Some of the tanks are iced over, but appear to have something bigger inside.*

Syn: "What the hell? This is some sort of breeding facility, isn't it? Rexil was never approved for genetic and biological research."


*Krast activates his Omni-Tool and moments later a rusted, beat up, riot-class assault drone arrives, barely hovering.*

Krast: "Have at it, but do it quick."

*A fast-paced beeping emits from the security console. Linox turns back to it.*

Linox: "It's picking up lifeforms in the streets not 5 miles from here. Heading this way quickly. We have fifteen minutes, max."

"We better report this to Ryder" Gazelle states.

---

"I'll take care of Jade, Ryder" Quill nods then says to Jade, "We'll get off this rock. I swear."

Zell bit her lower lip as she activated her Omni-tool and linked it to the droid. After a quick diagnostic Zell let out a sigh, "Alright little guy, lets get your fixed up."

--

Sab walked over to one of the pods, and wiped her hand across it to clear away the frost. She tip toed, then peered inside.

*Inside the frosted tank is one of the apes, seemingly asleep. Syn opens up her Omni-Tool.*

Syn: "Ryder, we've found some kind of breeding lab. Those monsters are in here. Looks like cloned from their fossils? Positive note, we found a bridge connecting this building to the next over, hopefully we can use it to get out of here."


*Jade seems slightly relaxed by Quill's reassurance.*

Ryder: "Well I doubt one lab spawned hundreds of those things, we still need to get to the mines. We're headed up. Can you move, Jade?"

*She nods. Ryder starts upstairs.*


Linox: "Noct, we should prepare some sort of defense if they get here before we're ready. I'm activating the turrets outside, but they'll only slow them down."

*Linox activates a few riot-control turrets out in the square and activates two military-grade turrets on top of the checkpoint.*

Krast: "Striker, get the rest of the guys out here, we're going outside."

Striker: "Fuck you, Krogan. In case you haven't noticed, you don't give orders anymore, we're all nobodies stuck on this planet. Vixen has all ready labeled us all as dead and you know it."

Quill helps Jade by offering her a shoulder to lean on while she walks.

---

Gazelle is browsing around the lab seeing if he can find anything useful.

Noct stood up, "He wasn't talking with the authority of a Vixen employee, he was talking with the authority of someone who has the ability to rip your arms off without anyone really caring. Now, do as he says."

Zell smiled, and ran another diagnostic on the droid after working on it for a bit, "There we are, good as new."

--

Mortal furrowed her brow, "Damn, what were they doing here?"

Striker: "Screw that. I'm not getting myself killed, send your own mercs if you want stupid volunteers. I'm fine right here."

*Linox looks over the droid and nods in agreement.*

Linox: "Looks good, I'll program it to patrol the tunnels."

*After a few beeps the droid rises back into the air and heads down the stairs towards the tunnels. Linox pulls up the droid's video feed on the console.*


*Gazelle finds an authorization pass card that belongs to the Salarian council member.*

Syn: "Something they shouldn't have been doing."

"Hey Syn I found something."

OOC: About ready to Renegade Interrupt this fucker.

"You've got some balls if you're willing to talk that way to a Krogan," Noct said, "Just hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass." She then looked at her group, "Iliad, Dura, go with Krast." She then looked over at the screen, "So, what exactly is down there, Dr.?"

--

Mortal walked over towards Gazelle, "What have you found?"

"Looks like an authorization card. Couldn't hurt to see what sort of places this gets us in to."

OOC: I was kind of hoping you did, would have made great entertainment.

*Jade is panting, still pretty drained from her earlier episode.*

Ryder: "We're almost there. I can hear them."


*Syn looks at the console and finds what she's looking for.*

Syn: "Let me see that card."


Krast: "Funny. Didn't know the women of your species were the one with balls, Striker."

Striker: "Screw you, Krast."

*Krast leads Dura and Iliad outside with the half dozen Vixen security willing to still follow. Striker goes back with the refugees. The console feed shows small empty halls with nothing but large pipes for decoration.*

Linox: "Nothing yet. Once we clear to the next checkpoint, I think we should make our move."


*The sky outside seems darker than when they had gone in. The screams and howls of the monsters can be heard echoing across the abandoned streets. Even Krast tenses uneasily as a deafening roar shakes the city.*

Krast; "Okay...I'll take point, the rest of you spread out around the debris. Gerint set up your rockets on the roof with the turrets, keep them firing."

*Krast turns to Dura and Iliad.*

Krast: "You two, do what you do best...and hope we make it out of here alive."

OOC: Gazelle would so totally headbutt that Krogan... and probably break its neck in the process.

Gazelle hands her the card.

---

"I can carry you you know? I'm stronger than I look."

*Syn inserts the card into a card-reader and a small hologram pops up above the console.*

VI: "Accessing profile. Error, DNA recognition not available for Rexil Councilor Calni Persal Berang Lotin Kal. Unauthorized user. Warning: Security has been alerted."

Syn: "Whoops...lets try that again..."

*Syn pulls out the card and starts plugging away on the console.*


Jade: "No...I'm fine..."

*Jade pushes through, carrying her own. Ryder leads them over to the Research Lab. He enters and looks around at the tanks. Jade is practically running to the room and leans against the doorway to the lab with a sigh of relief.*

Ryder: "Well, what do we have here?"

"A lot of bullshit" Gazelle says. "Seems like the R&D bit off more than it could chew." He leans against a wall.

Quill is still very much concerned for Jade's wellbeing but decides not to dote any longer. He walks over to wear Syn is and says, "Mind letting me take a crack at it?"

*Syn steps aside.*

Syn: "Be my guest."

*Ryder looks at the revealed ape specimen.*

Ryder: "Well this explains how we came to fight these things. Quill, tell me what you can about this beast."