SFS: The Slumber Party (Part Three: The Arena)

Ayrene looks around at the various displays in the lobby, each showing off at least one member of her family, from her aunt Tali to her  uncle James. A pair of particularly large displays showed off her Krogan uncles while another shows her biotic aunts, Miranda and Jack. Turning to Steve, she gives him a questioning look, causing him to chuckle, "Don't worry Aya. This is all strictly for charity. No one's going to be hurt."

"Seriously? How'd you manage to get some of my aunts and uncles to agree to that? I know for a fact that Grunt and Javik would relish the opportunity to let loose."

"Your dad made them promise to keep the destruction to a minimum. Otherwise they'd be on the sidelines watching the fights with you all."

Aya starts laughing at the thought of Grunt having to sit this one out. "Oh, he would be furious."

She looks back up at her towering uncle and her youngest sister, and notices that Syren has placed her Hanar plushie on his head while she sits on his shoulders. Jack nudges him in the ribs with her elbow, "Good look for you Wrex."

He gives her a wry smile, "You're just jealous you don't have one Jacqueline."

"Oh....you are so going down tonight."

"Promises, promises."

Ayrene just laughs at the antics of her family, taking Cassie and Gabriel by the hand and making her way over to one of the vendors. The Salarian behind the counter looks over the edge at the trio and nods, "What can I get for you? We got all sorts of items for sale here......Vakarian visors, Normandy hats, Team Shepard shirts."

Ayrene activates her omni-tool to check her allowance balance for a moment. "Three Normandy hats, please."

The sales clerk rings up the total, "That will be 300 credits."

With a wave of her omni-tool, she accepts the payment. The clerk stops for a moment as he sees the name of the account. "Oh....wait-a-moment.......you're......oh my goodness. I'm so sorry, I didn't recognize you miss. A gift basket has already been purchased for your group.....by a Miss Chakwas. Let me refund your money. One moment."

He goes back behind the counter and into a room off to the side. Ayrene looks at Cassie and Gabriel, "Did you know that Gramma Chakwas got us a gift?"

Gabriel shakes his head, "Nope. Might mean that she's not here tonight though. We'll have to go visit her tomorrow to say thank you."

Cassie nods in agreement, "That would be nice, Gabe. Good idea."

The clerk comes back with a laden basket filled with merchandise. "Here you are. I threw in your hats for free Miss Shepard."

"Oh I couldn't possibly accept that sir."

The Salarian holds up a hand, "No no, I insist. The commander saved my life back in the day. The least I can do is make sure her children have a wonderful evening."

He gives her a smile and places a hat on each of their heads. "Tell the commander that my brother Telon and I wish her the best this evening."

Ayrene looks back up into the eyes of the Salarian and nods, a grateful smile on her lips. "Thank you so much, I'll tell her."

Cassie squeaks in surprise as she realizes there is no way she'll be able to carry this on her own. "Think you guys could give me a hand carrying this monster basket?"

Gabriel clamps his talons on the other side taking most of the weight into his capable arms, "Don't worry Cass, I got this end. Aya, we'll need you for directions."

As the trio makes their way back to their group, Samantha looks up in surprise at the large basket in their arms, "Where did you all get that?"

Cassie pipes up from the back, "Gramma Karin left it for us as a gift."

Wrex marches up and lifts the basket into his arms, Syren still sitting on his shoulders. "Come on everyone. Grab your refreshments and let's get you all to your box. Jackie and I gotta get back downstairs for the start."

A few moments later Wrex leads them into a large room overlooking the arena below, with four circular tables in the middle of the room. As Ayrene enters after her uncle she notices a pair of people are already in the room. One sits in a dress of gold and red, the silken fabric hugging her curves, the other clad in jeans and a button-down black shirt. Ayrene smiles as her grandparents look at the incoming group, Hannah Shepard and Aethyta return the smile warmly. "Hello girls."

"Gramma!"

Velair and Rinyn go streaking forward past the knees of their uncle to give each grandparent a big hug. Velair looks up at Hannah, "You two came! I thought you both said you had important things to take care of tonight."

Aethyta strokes the cheek of Rinyn in her arms, "Your father wanted this kept quiet. Something about that I'm not good at keeping secrets.....besides, I'm here to cheer on your uncle."

Jack gives an audible gagging sound and Wrex chuckles as he puts the basket on the middle of the table and places Syren into Samantha's arms. He gives Syren a playful tap on the nose with a broad finger and smiles, "You'll be cheering me on Little Bit?"

"Of course!"

Ayrene looks over to Jack, "Give 'em heck Jackie."

Jack rolls her eyes in mock exasperation followed by a grin.

Two minutes later after Wrex and Jack have left, the arena goes dark for a moment before a voice comes in over the speakers, "Ladies....Gentlemen.......Citizens of the Citadel. Are you all ready for the ultimate contest of skill, endurance, and power? Then without further delay let me introduce the teams competing this evening. In the red corner let me introduce...........Team Mako!

A spotlight illuminates a group of five individuals, the light playing off the armor and weapons in their hands. The announcer continues "Team Mako consists of some of the best and brightest in the galaxy, each of them decorated heroes in the war, let me introduce..."

The spotlight dims slightly and illuminates the person on the far right, clad in yellow and black armor, war scars noticeable even in this light.

"Best stay out of his way if you know what's good for you. Zaeed Massani!"

The spotlight continues to move to the right, "The last Prothean is here to show you all what they are capable of. Javik!"

"You all know her from her exploits on the Normandy during the invasion by Sovereign, not to mention the second human Spectre. Ashley....Williams!!!!!!"

"The psychotic biotic makes her triumphant return to the arena! Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Jacqueline Nought!"

"And leading Team Mako is one of your favorite competitors, Major. James. Vega!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rinyn watches her aunts and uncles give a good show, pumping up the crowd. Ayrene giggles as Jack hurls a couple biotic singularities into the air over the five. The announcer gives the audience a moment to quiet down before continuing, "Now let's introduce the members of Team Hammerhead, some of the most intelligent and powerful people in the galaxy. Starting off, you all know him for his ruthlessness, you love him for his strength. The Bane of the Ravagers returns to the arena, Urdnot........GRUNT!!!!!!!!

Grunt steps forward, his fists in the air as the crowd goes wild. The announcer continues, "Leader of newly revitalized Corsairs, the hero of Gellix, Jacob......Taylor!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacob's biotics swirl around his hands as the crowds cheers (though not as loud as for Grunt). The announcer goes on, "Evildoers beware her might. Her grace unparalleled, her strength unmatched. Please give a huge hand for your Justicar........Samara!"

The justicar steps forward and her entire body glows as she lifts herself off the ground, floating at least a foot into the air, while her black and gold armor glints in the spotlight. The crowd goes wild with cheers and startled gasps as the announcer goes on, "Best hold onto your valuables  while she's around, you won't ever see her coming. Please welcome the founder of WhiteBox Security, Kasumi Goto."

The famous thief materializes into view, clad once again in her black hooded catsuit. She gives a little wave and blows a kiss at the camera, before the announcer moves to the final member. "Now, leading the team.....her beauty matched only by her intelligence........a true femme fatale in the arena. Please give it up for the gorgeous, Miranda....LAWSON!!!!!!"

The beautiful Miranda tilts her hips to one side in a sultry pose, her right hand on her hip, an M-5 Phalanx pistol in her other hand. The crowd resounds in cheers and whistles, causing her to smile. The crowd fades into silence as a spotlight illuminates the center ring of the arena, orchestral music blasting through the speakers. The announcer waits a moment before speaking, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for. Your final team of the evening.....each member you know and love. I have the great pleasure of introducing this evening....your heroes.....Team......NORMANDY!"

Everyone in the box starts cheering and yelling as six figures begin to slowly rise up from the center, "Please welcome the first synthetic to compete in our matches, the sultry and sexy, EDI!" 

"You know her tech skills will dazzle you, and you best watch your optics, the youngest admiral of the Quarian people, Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy!"

"The blue brainy bombshell makes her return.....and this time she's not alone. Please welcome your long time favorite, Doctor Liara T'Soni Shepard!!!!!"

The girls squee with delight as their mom comes into view next to EDI and Tali, Aethyta gives a warm smile as Velair bounces with delight on her lap. Syren squeals with glee as the announcer goes on, "The Krogan that won your hearts. Men, you know him. Ladies, you love him. His enemies fear him. Please welcome your ten-time arena champ............Urdnot Wrex!!!!!!!!!!"

"The Turian that brought the gangs of Omega to their knees....has made his return here after ten years. No one can resist his charms, and no one can escape his sight.......Garrus 'Archangel' Vakarian!!!!!!!"

"And finally. The woman that saved us all. The woman who brought us together. Scourge of Reapers, Savior of the Galaxy, The first human Spectre. Please give it up, all of you....for Commander.......Kaycee.........Shepard!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ayrene and her sisters cheer wildly as their father appears in the midst of the group, putting her hand in Liara's, holding it tightly. The crowd goes absolutely insane at this point. All the competitors wave and pumps up the crowd. 

A scoreboard appears overhead showing the three team names. 

The games were about to begin.