Maroo: Orokin Blood

Finale

"Duck."

Maroo had only registered it was Xarra who said that when the ground erupted with dozens of tentacles. She dropped, splashing in the water that appeared as cries and choked breaths stuffed the air. Gunfire pierced the storm, quick splashes signaling the last efforts of the soldiers were failing.

Something resembling silence descended on the room.

Maroo sighed, jumping to her feet, "what would I do without your—"

"Maroo!"

Xarra leaped as a soldier missing a leg grabbed his rifle and squeezed the trigger. Maroo reached for her pistol, tensing for impact but nothing came, except the shadow of greys and blacks that flooded her vision. Xarra's shield flashed incessantly, shattering to crimson and earning a grunt of pain. Maroo whipped to the side, unloading a dozen shots before she realized the soldier was dead.

She let out a laugh disguised as a sigh, "I had my shield you know. It wasn't that dire."

"Oh... right. I thought—"

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks, tin suit. Mor, you okay?"

The Cephalon stood. "Only if we get to blow that bastard up!"

"Such a shame," Hek's voice blared through the cabin's intercom. "I won't be able to capture you personally! My Queens would like that privilege, and I am happy to oblige!

"Don't try to pull anything! I have the... 'Orokin Blood', and this time, we'll make sure there are no leaks. Not that it'll matter to you. Just sit tight, and embrace the honor of the Queen's... 'presence'." Hek roared with laughter, reverberating menacingly as if to prove his absolute victory.

"Well," Mor said, asking what already bogged Maroo's mind. "What do we do?"

Five Hundred Plat is enough, Maroo told herself. That could last me a bit. I could find some other jobs in the meantime. Get back on my feet. Mor and Xarra weren't interested in the money anyway, and I'd bet Newborn wouldn't do anything either—probably just an informant. Unaffiliated.

I don't quite feel like dealing with the Grineer Queens today, or ever. It was a triumph to make it this far, but I think this is as far as I go. Five hundred Platinum is good enough. I'm not risking my life for more, she told herself again.

And, surprisingly, she didn't believe a word of it.

Maroo had breathed on the Orokin Blood. Her ten thousand Platinum. And she didn't take it. Hek's ship wouldn't be too far, especially with her Swallow, an insane Cephalon with an addiction to explosives, and a Tenno who wanted to see the Grineer fall. She didn't want to think about the logistics, about the plan, about the potential of facing the Grineer Queens. So, she didn't.

"We're getting our damn Blood." She said, tapping her embedded beacon. A quick vibration meant the ship was coming. "I say muck to whatever Hek is going to do about it, I want my money."

The other two nodded in unison. By the time they made it to the latch of the empty compartment, their ride was waiting, and in a breath were in the cockpit, locking onto the Grineer transporter.

"You sure we can catch it?" Xarra asked.

"I can add—" Mor started.

"It can catch a Liset, it'll be fine. Especially without Mor's 'boosters'."