It was a typical day in the docking area for the Citadel's Tayseri Ward as several civilians from different races waited to be scanned before they were allowed onto the ward, or at least it started that way.

"Next!" The human female C-Sec officer called out as the two Asari she just scanned walked through the doors on the other side of the scanner. "Get a job at C-Sec they said, it'll be fun they said, I should've read that advert closer." She thought with a frown as the next civilian stepped into the scanner. "Huh, don't get many Quarians these days."

"We have been busy on our homeworld." The young female Quarian responded with a nervous laugh, she was quite short and her suit was red and black in colour, the officer shrugged her shoulders as she started imputing commands on her console. "Err…."

"Don't worry, the scanners won't bite or affect your suit mam." The officer reassured her as the scanners passed over the Quarian, however the Quarian's nervousness made her suspicious when the alarms went off. "What the…."

"Oh Keelah, I just knew this was going to happen." The Quarian thought as she turned to the officer. "Is there a problem?"

"You tell me Reya." The officer responded as she read the report and the Quarian, now known as Reya, gulped. "Seems you did some time for hacking a couple of years ago but was let out early?"

"It's a long story." Reya responded as she rubbed the back of her helmet nervously. "I may have been let out early but I served my time and paid my debt to society."

"That may be but it doesn't explain you leaving the Citadel shortly after you were released, in fact it says here you got on a shuttle that took you to the Terminus System." The officer responded and Reya sighed.

"I had trouble getting employment when I first moved here and it was even harder when I got out of jail." Reya responded as she folded her arms. "I thought I'd have better luck out in the Terminus and whilst I did make a decent amount of money out there I was ashamed of what I had to do back then so I returned hoping to make a decent living for once."

"Can't say I don't sympathize with her but is she worth Commander Baily's wrath?" The officer thought before reading her bio again. "No history of violence as far as I can see but this doesn't account for her time in the Terminus Systems, screw it, if Commander Baily raises a stink about it I'll be ready to defend myself." The officer decided before pressing another button and the doors on the far end opened again. "You can go through, just try to stay out of trouble."

"Really? Thanks." Reya responded gratefully before walking through the scanners and exiting out the other end, the officer called for the person behind Reya to enter the scanner next but she paid no attention to it though judging by the heavy steps that she could hear a mile away it was likely an Elcor. "I made it! I'm on the Citadel! Maybe now I'll be free from my pursuers." Reya thought as she walked down the street and looked around, she got nervous when some shifty looking people looked her way but they returned to whatever it was they were doing. "I think I should relax before I try to get a permanent residence, maybe there's a bar where I can get a drink so something?"

*meanwhile*

One such bar on the Ward was Trikaro's, a Turian owned establishment that was popular with criminals from all walks of life whether they be mercs or petty thieves, and in some cases it also attracted C-Sec officers.

"Where is he?" A young (for her species) Asari thought as she took another sip from her drink, to the other patrons see looked like most Asari, drop dead gorgeous, blue skin and weird tentacle like hair at the back of her head, who was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and looked out of her element, anyone who tried anything with her however quickly found out the truth the hard way.

Her name was Anola Tr'Santi and she was a C-Sec officer working undercover trying to catch a murder suspect at the bar, having worked on Thessia, the Asari's homeworld, for a number of years before she moved to the Citadel she had plenty of experience as a cop but in C-Sec's eyes she was still a rookie.

"I swear if he doesn't show up soon I'm ordering something alcoholic." Anola thought as she glanced around the mostly male patrons who were hanging around the bar, a couple of the thugs had caught her eye including a known Krogan mercenary by the name of Urdnot Krek and other persons of interest, however she shook her head at the idea of getting drunk. "What would any of my family members say if they knew that I even considered getting drunk on the job? And besides, knowing these guys there are a lot of ways that drinking too much could end badly for me."

"Is this seat taken miss?" Anola looked up when she heard the familiar Turian voice and saw the man she had been waiting for, he was a tall Turian with white facial markings who was dressed more formerly than the Asari which only made him stand out more.

"It is now handsome." Anola responded with a grin making sure that the other patrons heard her and she couldn't help but let her grin grew wider when she overheard what the other patrons were calling her partner, the grin disappeared when she turned to him however. "What took you so long Varnus? You're lucky our suspect hasn't shown up yet!" Anola whispered and Varnus shook his head.

"Sorry Officer Tr'Santi, you know how bad the Citadel Traffic can get this time of night." Varnus, Anola's partner in C-Sec, responded as he leaned forward. "And knowing this place's reputation I'm sure there are a few others that we could be interested in."

"Yeah, a couple, I spotted Urdnot Krek at the bar when I went to get my drink and that's just one example." Anola responded as she pointed out the hulking Krogan at the bar. "Most of the other patrons are scared shitless of him."

"Knowing his reputation I can't blame them." Varnus responded as he shook his head. "Our guy will show up and once he does our informant will keep him occupied."

"I hope your right, there's only so many leers I can take from them." Anola grunted as she motioned towards the other patrons. "It would be a lot more tolerable if I could drink on the job, that's all I'm saying."

"If I had a credit chit for every time I thought the same thing, whether it's during an assignment for C-Sec or the Turian Millitary, I could retire early and live a comfortable life." Varnus responded with a chuckle and Anola shook her head, the door to the bar opened up and Varnus looked up seeing Reya enter the bar and sit down at a booth not far from them. "Anola…."

"I thought the report said we were looking for a tall human male, not a short Quarian female?" Anola asked as she looked over at Reya. "And I thought I stuck out like a sore thumb."

"We are and you do but that's not the point, I don't recognize that Quarian and she seems to be a little young to be in a place like this." Varnus responded as he glanced at her. "This has me concerned."

"I'm just surprised that you can guess her age with that suit and all." Anola commented and Varnus shook his head.

"I know you haven't worked with many Quarians but I have, trust me, I know what to look out for." Varnus responded before looking at the bar. "I'm going to get myself a drink, can I get you anything?"

"Some excitement would be nice." Anola responded with an annoyed sigh. "We're on duty, take a wild guess."

"Non-Alcoholic it is." Varnus responded before standing up. "Whilst I'm at the bar run that girl's helmet through the system, just in case."

"You're really paranoid about her, aren't you?" Anola asked as she fired up her Onmi-Tool and whilst she inputted commands Varnus shook his head.

"Not so much paranoid as cautious." Varnus responded before walking towards the bar, he earned a glare from Krek when the Krogan spotted him but he ignored him. "Krek hasn't spent much time on the Citadel, it's unlikely that he recognizes me." Varnus thought before turning to the woman in the skimpy outfit who had approached him from behind the bar ready to take his order. "Two sodas, one dextro friendly."

"Coming right up." The woman responded before getting the drinks ready, once she served the drinks she leaned in. "Varnus, how much longer do I have to wait for this guy? I hate this outfit and I've lost count of the amount of times my ass has been slapped."

"I understand your frustration Amelia but don't worry, it shouldn't be too long now." Varnus responded and Amelia grinned in response.

"Why does bird boy get all the luck around here?!" A nearby drunk human male asked and Amelia rolled her eyes in response. "First that Asari at the booth and now her? Why don't you just take them both home with you and have some fun with them instead of making us all look bad."

"For one thing my wife would have my head on a stick if I even thought about doing that." Varnus thought before shaking his head. "Maybe because I actually treat women with respect? And besides, you don't need my help to look bad, take it from me." Varnus added and the other patrons laughed whilst Amelia barely suppressed a giggle, as he turned around he realized that someone was missing from the crowd. "Where did Krek go? He normally spends his evenings at the bar drinking everyone else under the table." Varnus thought as he looked around. "Did anyone see where Krek went?"

"Beats me, you'd think that big lug would be easier to spot." A nearby Batarian answered with a shrug and Varnus frowned. "He probably just went to the bathroom or something."

"Spirits help the toilet he decides to sit on." Varnus chuckled and the Batarian laughed in response, he returned to his seat where Anola was still scanning Reya's helmet not knowing that Krek was doing the same thing.

"Come on you piece of shit." Krek grunted as he glared at his onmi-tool. "This is why I don't bother with technology most of the time." He added before grinning as the info came up. "I thought I recognized that Quarian, easiest payday ever!"

"Any luck Anola?" Varnus asked and Anola shook her head.

"About as much luck as that drunk human at the bar." Anola responded as she looked up at Varnus. "The Wi-Fi connection in this place is crap, makes my old extranet service provider look as fast as a mass relay by comparison."

"That fast huh?" Varnus chuckled as he glanced over at Reya. "Amelia's getting even more impatient than you, I'm beginning to doubt that our guy will ever show up."

"Do you think he was tipped off?" Anola asked and Varnus shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Varnus responded as he spotted Krek emerging from the shadows but not towards the bar as he expected but rather towards Reya. "What could he want with that Quarian?"

"Reya'Dora nar Wera?" Krek asked as he approached her booth, before she could respond he reached behind him and grabbed a shotgun. "I'm about to redecorate this place with your brains!"

"Anola!" Varnus said urgently as Reya barely dodged out the way of the shotgun blast which caused the rest of the patrons to flee the bar, Anola quickly grabbed her sidearm and got into position alongside Varnus who grabbed his. "C-Sec! Drop your weapon now!"

"And here I was worried that this was going to be too easy!" Krek responded as he span around and fired at the two officers who ducked behind two overturned tables. "If you were smart you'd be pointing your guns at her, I can guarantee that the bounty on her head is five times as much credits as the two of you make yearly!"

"Cute, you've learned how to do basic math." Anola retorted only for the Krogan to fire again. "And besides, that's not how we operate and you know it Krek!" Anola shouted out in response before spotting that the staff where hiding behind the bar. "Good, if this gets messy at least they won't get caught in the crossfire." Anola thought before turning to Varnus. "Any sign of the Quarian?"

"She's hiding behind that booth over there but it doesn't provide much cover." Varnus responded as he got an idea. "How much time can you buy for me to get to her?"

"That depends on how long my shields can hold out and how quickly I can fire up a biotic attack." Anola responded as she ducked under another shotgun blast. "A better question is, do you really think you can get to her without him spotting you."

"You know what? Fuck you guys, I'm cashing in on that bounty!" Krek grunted before turning around and firing at Reya's position.

"We don't really have the luxury of debating the logistics of this plan!" Varnus responded as he glanced towards Reya. "Do what you can, I'll deal with the Quarian."

"Got it!" Anola responded with a nod before turning to Krek. "How hard can it be? It's just a 500 pound Krogan armed with a shotgun." Anola thought before coming out of cover and firing three shots at the Krogan, the first one took down his shields but even if all three bullets had hit they barely would've affected the large Krogan, that wasn't her intention anyway. "Hey! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

"Find me someone my own size and I'll get back to you!" Krek responded before turning around and firing at Anola, the bullets hit Anola's shields but whilst it did damage them it wasn't enough to take them down. "Typical, C-Sec always gets the best stuff."

"When it comes to dealing with thugs like you we need the best." Anola responded as she started to fire up her biotics, however before she could launch her attack the Krogan charged at her at full speed, Anola tried to get a Lift off but Krek slammed into her knocking her to the ground before pointing his shotgun at her head whilst standing over her.

"It's a shame that I have to do this, I mean I originally only wanted to redecorate the walls with that Quarian's blood but now I have to mix in Asari and Turian blood too." Krek said sarcastically with a sadistic grin on his face. "Oh well, what can you do?"

"Come on you bosh'tet." Reya thought as she frantically typed away at her Onmi-Tool. "If I don't sabotage that shotgun she'll be killed and enough people have died for my mistakes already."

"Oh well, at least your funeral will be close casket due to the fact that you won't have a head anymore." Krek added before firing the shotgun and Anola closed her eyes….however no blast came as the shotgun failed to fire. "What the fuck?! I cleaned this thing this morning!"

"Now's my chance!" Anola thought as she fired up her biotics. "Hey Krek, you forgot something."

"What?!" The Krogan snapped at her as he turned his attention back to her but once he saw the distinctive blue glow off a biotic attack it hit him like a ton of bricks. "Oh shit…." Krek trailed off as he was sent flying by a Throw propelling him several feet in the air before crashing down atop a table destroying it in the process.

"Anola, are you hurt?" Varnus said as he rushed over to her side and helped her up.

"A five-hundred pound Krogan just ran me over, thankfully I had my shields up and they took most of the damage." Anola grunted in pain as she turned to her partner. "I'll take that over having my head blown off any day of the week, speaking of which…"

"I'll deal with Krek, you tend to the Quarian girl." Varnus responded before marching over to the downed Krogan with his gun drawn, the Krogan sat up slowly and Varnus took the opportunity to cuff him. "Urdnot Krek, you're under arrest for two counts of attempted murder, one to a C-Sec agent, you have the right to remain silent and anything you do say will be held against you in a court of law…."

"Blah, blah, blah, I've heard that so many times it's not even funny." The Krogan interrupted him with a grunt. "And I want a lawyer as soon as I get to C-Sec."

"Your choice but given the charges it might be worth co-operating with us." Varnus responded before turning to where the staff where hiding. "It's safe now, he won't hurt you." Varnus called out and the staff members stood up. "If our guy was coming here then he definitely isn't now, still why would Krek attack a young Quarian girl like that?"

"I am not looking forward to writing this report." Anola thought as she walked around the ruined remains of the bar, Varnus was busy making the call to C-Sec HQ and she could practically predict the meeting they would inevitably have with Commander Baily. "Did that Quarian run off? I can't see her anywhere?" Anola thought before something caught her eye, namely the distinctive shape of a Quarian's helmet poking out from behind one of the turned over tables. "Scratch that." Anola thought before holstering her gun and walking up to the table. "C-Sec, you can come out now Reya."

"O….okay." Reya responded as she stood up slowly. "I'm sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen." Reya said as she leaned against the wall. "That Krogan, is he dead?"

"He's alive but restrained, you don't have to worry about him." Anola responded and Reya breathed a sigh of relief. "Look, I know this is a tough time for you but I need you to come down to the station with me and Varnus, the Krogan said something about a bounty and in this part of the district you'd be safer with us."

"That I can agree with." Reya responded before noticing that Anola was clutching her side. "You're hurt!"

"Relax, in this line of work I've suffered much worse." Anola reassured her before wincing. "Doesn't mean that I won't be paying a visit to Huerta Memorial as soon as I can." Anola added as she approached Reya. "Officer Anola Tr'Santi, C-Sec, my partner over there is Officer Varnus Travekian."

"Reya'Dora nar Wera, currently unemployed." Reya responded as she stepped forward. "I know you have a lot of questions but I'd feel more comfortable talking about them at C-Sec HQ."

"Then it's a good thing that that's our next stop." Anola responded as Varnus approached them. "Will you need a lawyer?"

"You're kidding right? I could barely afford a drink here and I didn't even get to finish mine." Reya responded as she folded her arms and motioned with her head towards the shattered glass that one held her drink complete with the spilled liquid. "Besides, even if I could afford one I won't need one, if anything I need C-Sec's help and I know from experience that the quickest way to get your help is to co-operate."

"Then we'd better get you down to the station." Varnus responded as he approached the two women. "Krek is on his way to C-Sec as we speak but if you want to get your ribs looked at before our chat with him and the Quarian…."

"My name is Reya." Reya interrupted him and Varnus nodded.

"As I was saying, our chat with Krek and Reya then you're free to do so." Varnus corrected himself and Anola nodded.

"Get McKenna to look after her whilst I'm at Huerta Memorial, he's worked with Quarians before." Anola responded before turning to Reya. "Don't worry Reya, you'll be safe at C-Sec."

"If I had a credit chit for every time I heard a variation of that sentence over the past two years I could pay off any mercenary that comes after me." Reya sighed as Varnus approached her. "But I'll take your word for it." Reya added before walking off with Varnus.

"She can't be older than eighteen, what could she have done to earn such a bounty?" Anola thought as she watched the pair leave, she started making her way out of the wrecked bar herself and frowned. "We may not have been able to find our murder suspect but it looks like we've stumbled on a mystery that's just as big."