Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 34

Milky Way/Hourglass Nebula/Osun/Purgatory Prison Ship

Earth year: 2185 CE --- June

Two days later, Callie was standing on the prison ship Purgatory, accompanied by Kasumi and Zaeed. Prison or no prison, she wanted her most skilled merc and the best thief in the galaxy with her for this mission. She had no idea what to expect and her fears weren't alleviated by the reception they received as they approached security.

"As this is a high-security prison, you will need to relinquish your weapons before you will be allowed to proceed." Said an armed turian dressed in blue armour. "They will be returned to you on your way out."

"I'll relinquish one bullet." Callie threatened. "Where do you want it?"

"Commander Shepard. This is a prison. I'm sure you can understand that this is a necessary precaution." Said a second, taller turian who joined the first.

"I'm not surrendering my gun." Callie told him, her voice stern. "Period."

"Very well Commander. This facility is more than equipped to deal with a handful of armed civilians. You may proceed."

With that settled, she and her squad fell into step behind the turian who introduced himself as Warden Kuril. "I run this facility."

"Must be difficult running a prison this size so far out in space." Callie said, wondering how they maintained it.

"It is." Kuril admitted. "But these are very dangerous individuals. We provide a service that isn't available anywhere else in the galaxy."

"Must be expensive." Zaeed grumbled. "Who pays for all this?"

"Each inmate's home planet pays a fee to keep the prisoner contained here." Kuril said.

"And if they don't pay?" Callie asked, smelling a rat.

"Then we let them know that we will be forced to release the prisoner on their home planet. At an unspecified place and time."

Zaeed laughed. "So it's an extortion racket."

"You may not agree with my methods." Kuril snapped. "But don't question my motives. These are dangerous people and I provide a necessary service."

"What can you tell me about Jack?" Callie asked, changing the subject.

"Cerberus hasn't told you?" Kuril sounded shocked. "Jack is the meanest, most dangerous individual I've ever met. But you'll see for yourself soon enough."

"Right." Callie said. Well that told her nothing. She was already wary of Kuril's smooth manner and the practiced ease with which he answered their questions, this was not helping to alleviate her suspicions.

Kuril stopped and turned to face her. "Inmate processing is down the hall to your right. I'm going to make sure Cerberus has transferred the credits for Jack's release."

Callie nodded, her unease with the turian increasing as he left them to continue on alone. They took the hallway Kuril indicated and came upon a scene where a guard was beating a prisoner while another looked on.

"Is this really necessary?" Callie demanded of the officer in the hall.

"This is a cake-walk compared to what he did to his victims."

"This demeans you as much as it does him." Callie said, keeping her cool as the beating continued.

"We have orders."

"You're not important enough to make your own decisions?" Callie pressed.

"I'll admit I get tired of it. Does this really accomplish anything? Fine. You're right. Hey," he called to the second guard. "Call it off. At least for now."