<span style="color: Red"><span style="font-size: 18px">Chapter 3</span></span><br/><b>Forgotten Worlds</b><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><i>Team</i>. It still sounded like an alien word to her, describing a foreign idea. Ashana stared blankly out the window, leaning against the wall opposite the window, beside the door, one naked blue leg folded beneath the other,  stretched out before her, across the cool metallic surface of the deck.<br/><br/>She couldn't meditate, or even sleep. The bandage wrap around her rips was tight, limiting her, and as the distance between her and Bekenstein, and Vega grew, the pain came. The adrenaline and endorphins had worn off and every bruise and broken rip hurt.<br/><br/><i>Team</i>. She could see it, every hit, every blocked attack. She replayed it over in her mind, again and again, for hours. She wanted to find a fault in her attack, in her stance, her balance... but there was nothing, no slip up, no fault in her attack. He had simply been... better.<i>Better</i>.<br/><br/>She felt the hits, felt her rips crack and break as his shin crushed them. She felt the hit to her face, the glancing wrist blow as he side stepped her charge, she felt the daze after his fist collided with the side of her head... then nothing. A blank spot when he kicked her, knocked her out. Only bits remained, a footstep... the gun. She stared out the window, at the blue and red ribbons of light, stared down the barrel of that gun at him. The coldness in his eyes, the calculated aggression so familiar to her. The reconciliation of taking a life. The intent to kill so clear and resolute, no pity, no hesitance.<br/><br/>He fingers curled slightly against the deck.<i>Team</i>.<i>Inexperience</i>. She had grit her teeth and sneered at the word, she had spat on the idea of it. Who was<i>He</i>to tell her she was<i>inexperienced</i>? But he was right, wasn't he? Darion was right. She couldn't have beaten him. It wasn't like the warehouse, no magical jack in the box mech waiting for her... no unknown factor or hidden enemy. She had faced her enemy, she had looked him in the eye, seen him... and had lost. By every measure, she should be dead.<br/><br/>For the first time in so long, she felt that cold sensation she had been able to dance around, forever avoiding. For the first time in so long, she was afraid.<br/><br/>A single note beep from the door stirred her senses back awake. She blinked and looked up at the red holo-interface on the door beside her.<span style="color: YellowGreen">Ashana, its Doctor Beruut. I need to redress your wounds and give you another dose of supplements.</span><br/><br/>Ashana nodded to the empty room, still staring blankly out the window.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">Alright.</span>She answered quietly and reached up up, striking the unlock key on the door.<br/><br/>It opened, briefly flooding the room with white light that made Ashana squint and turn her head as it stung her eyes. Beruut entered and closed the door behind him. He looked across the room at her discarded clothing, then down at her, sitting naked on the floor. He stared down at her quietly for a moment, considering the look she had about her, the distance, then kneeled down slowly, opening the med kit he brought.<br/><br/>She leaned forward at his order, as he unwrapped the bandages around her. She felt the stabs of pain, but they didn't register on a physical level. The doctor re wrapped her, after he scanned her, making sure the bones were setting straight.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">A penny for your thoughts?</span>He asked calmly inquisitive, as he addressed the discolored skin on her face and arm.<span style="color: YellowGreen">You seem rather lost in them.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">What did you do? Before, I mean.</span>She asked, staring back out the window.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">Before? The Acheron?</span>Ashana nodded.<span style="color: YellowGreen">I studied biology and physiology - Quarians mostly. I was part of a team that was trying to synthesize a bacterial agent to normalize the Quarian immune system. To allow them to integrate.</span><br/><br/>Ashana remained quiet. The doctor finished administering a salve to her injuries and proceeded his examinations to her ankle.<span style="color: YellowGreen">Your ankle should be fine after a few more days rest. I advise against any strain, however. No running or jumping.</span>He gathered up the medical supplies and stood up, looking down at her. Ashana continued staring out the window, as if she were completely unaware of anything around her.<br/><br/>Beruut stood over her, as if he were waiting to say something, waiting for the right words to come to him. But, after a long quiet between them, he slowly turned to the door and opened it.<span style="color: YellowGreen">We'll be arriving at Omega within the hour.</span>He told her, and left.<br/><br/>Ashana nodded slowly to the room.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Alright, everyone play it safe while we're here. No unneeded conflict. We're here to refit and reset.</span>Cantenelli said to everyone in the CIC.<span style="color: Blue">If you run into someone who looks like they've got their head on straight, let us know. And don't go to mentioning what this ship is. We're just a Turian frigate to everyone outside this room. And we probably shouldn't mentioned the N7 thing... </span>He paused.<span style="color: Blue">Or the SPECTRE thing. Actually, it would probably be a good idea if we didn't mention anything that happened on Bekenstein. Other than that, get what you need and relax. We may be walking into the shit storm of our lives, so let's get our heads clear. </span>Cantenelli nodded, then looked at Falkris.<span style="color: Blue">The comm is yours, Mr. Falkris.</span><br/><br/>The Turian nodded in affirmation.<span style="color: Red">Captain.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">I wish you would reconsider, Kala.</span>Taseer said, straightening her civilian clothes and the pack she had hanging on her back by one strap.<span style="color: Navy">I could introduce you to some fun people. Know their way around an engine, if you know what I mean. Besides, you'll be stuck here with tall dark and grumpy over there.</span>She looked at Falkris.<br/><br/>The elevator opened, and the only person who had been absent from the CIC emerged. Ashana glanced only briefly around the CIC at everyone gathered then strode past them toward the airlock.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">I'll be back ina  while.</span>She said, walking past any words thrown at her.<br/><br/>Firas watched her walk, and saw a look in her face he hadn't ever thought he would see. Uncertainty. He watched her go, but said nothing, made no move to stop her. He waited for Sorv to get his rifle checked and loaded on his back, and to see if Darion wanted to join them or head out on his own, then started up the gangway with his company.<span style="color: Blue">Know what your going to spend your cut on, yet?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrange">I thought I'd start with Afterlife. And if I'm still sober enough afterwards, I'd go look into some upgrades for the suit. You?</span>He answered casually.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Sounds like a good idea to me.</span>Firas grinned, looking forward to some R and R.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Ashana walked down the street, taking in Omega. It was strange to be back. The moment the oppressive recycled atmosphere that was ever so slightly too warm hit her, she felt a trickle of comfort roll through, like an old friend putting a hand on her shoulder. She knew every sight, every sound, every smell. As she walked through the streets, she could feel the eyes on her, watching her curves, following her every step. Men, and even some women, propositioning her in the street. Nothing had changed.<br/><br/>She let her feet wander where they wanted, taking her past familiar roads and shops, along glowing neon corridors lined with all the things that made her envious when she was younger. Nice things, pretty things.... dangerous things. And yet, something seemed different some how.<br/><br/>Ashana recalled herself walking up and down the streets, playing her game, learning her craft to perfection. How to stand, which leg to set outward just so, the faintest hint of a smile, the allure of a look that lasts just too long to be glance. She saw other Asari, dressed in so little, plying her trade, trying to catch a passerby with a healthy credit chit. She watched the amateurs, counted their mistakes.<br/><br/>She walked past the alley where she had been assaulted for the first time, raped. She remembered Aria's harsh words afterwards the told-you-so's and we'll kill him this time, but your on your own if you let it happen again. She remembered the strength she found in the other dancers she worked with, the desire to become the one in control. The memory seemed so distant now... so very far away. Everything she had felt then, eclipsed by the power it drove her to find in herself.<br/><br/>She didn't even realize it when she turned the corner, and found herself looking down the row of apartment doors. She gasped as she she recognized the row, the 5th door down on the left. Her door. Ashana walked slowly forward, took the steps she had taken countless times before. She turned and stood before it, looking at it. 423 - Z31 A. She lifted her hand, and paused at the keypad. she played the motions of the pass code in her head, recalled hitting those keys a millions times before, a million different times, a million different situations. But never one like this.<br/><br/>She put in her pass code and the door opened. She stared into the room, the darkness within, and smelled the faint hint of the perfume she had used as a dancer that had long since permeated everything. She took a step inside, looking at the small two room apartment that for nearly 100 years, had been her home.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>