The crew began to bleed from the briefing room once Reese's presentation was concluded. Everyone had their own way to prep before a mission. Armor and weapons needed to be checked, nerves needed to be calmed. Pol needed to ensure the Anzio's FTL systems were online and shields and stealth were functioning at maximum capacity. The young alien would disappear down in the engineering deck for hours, even days at a time, lost to anyone save perhaps the Commander or Suni, though the latter never searched for attention from the poetic krogan if she could avoid it.<br/><br/>"Talyet, Faustus, a word." She held up a hand and waved them forward, leaning against the edge of the table as they approached. She looked to the turian and drell, focusing on the deep red of Talyet's cheeks and throat, the white stripes of paint on Faustus's face. "You two have been with me the longest," she began quietly, eyes jutting to the door as it slid closed, leaving the three alone. "You know I trust you both with my life. This mission is unlike anything we've faced in a long while. Zero intelligence, potentially going up against enemies we know nothing about, tampering with a seemingly defunct relay... it's all terribly exciting, but risky."<br/><br/>Talyet tilted his head, blinking slowly at her. "Is this about the kid, Amari?"<br/><br/>The Commander cleared her throat, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "Look, I know in our job there are no guarantees. Death is always there, it's to be expected. But I don't want what happened to Lirrall to repeat itself. Not so soon."<br/><br/>The drell's eyes seemed to emit a deep, amber glow as they began to twitch back and forth erratically. The rest of his body remained frozen, statuesque as his eyes sifted through recent memories. "Sweltering heat. Sweat drips down Reese's brow, hits Lirrall's pale face like drops of rain. Lirrall gasps, large eyes like black diamonds rimmed with red, glittering. Lavender flesh turned white, Lirrall reaches, fingers clasp at a long, elegant throat soaked in green blood, the color of moss. Faustus attempts to halt the bleeding, but she's lost too much. She knows. She bats him away weakly but smiles. Affectionate. Says she always liked him. Left turian chocolates for him in the sick bay. A surprise."<br/><br/>Talyet stopped, blinking hard, lowering his head. "Sorry, Commander," he whispered. "Sometimes I can't stop it."<br/><br/>"I know, Maos. It's okay. It's beautiful, in its way. Humans have been trying to figure out how to remember things like drell do for years."<br/><br/>"Even the bad things, Amari?"<br/><br/>"Yes, even those." Sighed, placing her hands on each of her men's shoulders. "Just whatever happens... do what you can to protect Cole. For me."<br/><br/>The drell nodded, his smile tinged with melancholy. "Of course. If you'll excuse me, I have some guns to clean. Knives to sharpen. Porn to masturbate to. That kind of thing." Like water flowing through cracks in the earth, Talyet slipped away, silent as a shadow as he disappeared beyond the briefing room's doors.<br/><br/>"Come, Faustus. I'll help you count inventory. Make sure we're prepared for anything. I'll even organize all supplies according to turian military standard if you ask nicely."<br/><br/>Cole was exiting the elevator as Reese and Faustus passed on their way to the sick bay. "Vanes, excellent," Reese called, gently waving him toward her. "Faustus and I were just headed to go over supplies. Join us? I think you two need to settle some things." As the lieutenant approached, Reese grinned. "I assume Calypso was gentle with you?" she teased. "You look relatively unbruised. Unless she was sneaky about it."