Disclaimer: Thane, Shepard and Mass Effect series (c) BioWare.
Short first chapter, will pick up later on.
Please enjoy!
"Funny thing."
Thane Krios looked up from the desk he'd been focusing on so intently for the past few minutes; this was a ruse, of course. The dimly lit office in one of the numerous buildings of Illium was not unique, he'd seen many rooms similar to it—though it carried a certain sort of intrigue and charm. He found it to be a fitting environment for its chief occupant. Clasping his hands loosely behind his back, the drell shifted his weight to show her she had his attention.
Even with the subtle sign, she made no move to hurry. The human woman took a long drag off her cigarette—clove, a zest of lemon permeating the smoke—and crossed her arms, her back turned towards him. He noted her body language; she was tense, clutching her hands into fists to keep them from shaking.
"With humans, you meet someone utterly abhorrent, you can rest easy knowing their life is short." Even with their translators working, he could tell her accent was thicker than usual for most of her kind. If he had to describe it, he'd say it was almost batarian-like. She flicked a lock of hair behind her ear and took another drag, but still did not turn to face him. "Asari are different. They are among the longest-lived, and deem to hold that as a superiority over the rest of us." The woman dug her cigarette into an ashtray on the desk and paused, waiting for him to respond. When he did not, she suddenly whipped around and fixed a harried glare on him.
She was quite attractive, for a human; cropped auburn hair framed a pretty face lined with age and exhaustion. Her hazel eyes, which he imagined probably shone with her smiles earlier in life, were hardened and cold. This was a woman who'd seen a lot of hardship, experienced much pain—her enviable position in a high-ranking corporation had not come easily.
"Which is why I've hired you," she said, her intensity bubbling just under the surface. Ah, out came the reason for his presence. "She isn't just an arrogant bitch, she manipulates people cruelly in countless ways; my sister was among them." The woman stopped a moment to take a deep breath; she probably hoped he had not noticed the way her entire body had begun to tremble with anger and trepidation. They both knew the attempt was useless. "My sister is dead. This job may help my company, but I'm not going to lie to you; this is very personal."
She strode forward with purpose, slamming a fist onto the shelving between them. While the bits and bobbles resting on it shook from the force, they weren't greatly affected, and neither was he. The show of aggression was mostly just for her own sake, a way for her to express some kind of power over the situation. He could not blame her for these things. The fact she'd resorted to calling him in, even at the danger of losing her job, was telling enough.
"I don't care how long it takes. I don't care how high the price—Nassana Dantius needs to die. You make sure that happens, Mr. Krios, and I swear you will want of nothing for the rest of your days." He was too well-trained, too much in control of himself to let out a derisive snort, much as what she'd said begged for it. While her story was rare, her demands were not. Of course money was of no consequence. She'd meant to hire the very best, thus she'd sought him out. A person in want of quality over quantity probably didn't much care about what it took.
"That is already the case, Ms. Teaghan." His voice rumbled quietly as he dusted a nonexistent speck of dust from his leather coat; the action was more of a conscious effort than any sort of idleness on his part. For the most part, he kept himself still even as she paced the room, exuding an air of calm and careful ease. "But I will accept your offer."
"Grand." Sounding less than enthusiastic, she retreated back behind her desk and picked up a picture frame. Their eyes caught, and she hesitated; technically their contract was made and he had no obligation to stay longer, but she seemed to want something more. He gave a small nod to encourage her, which she responded to with a gruff sigh and a mutter. "Don't know why I'm even bothering," he heard her grumble, but he chose to ignore it when she proceeded to walk back towards him. She stopped only a few steps away; it was the closest they had come to each other since she first made contact with him. Her hands tapped impatiently against the back of the frame before she turned it so he could see the holograph it held.
There were two very young women pictured; the taller and older of the two he immediately recognized as his new employer. He'd been right about her eyes—in the holo, she was innocent with a coy smile, her youth unfettered by the rules and complications of her adult life. Still, her happiness could not hold a candle to the girl standing at her side. While Ms. Teaghan seemed to have always kept a noble and proper quality about her, the younger sister held an unbridled passion with just a touch of wildness. He could see how her loss had such a profound effect on the woman.
"We were only a few years apart, but she was like my own child." Ms. Teaghan turned the frame back around, her fingertips tracing a faint circle around her sister's face. "Our parents' arguments kept us apart for so long—and when we finally began to connect…we were forcibly cut off." She spoke with a kind of reverence, the barest hints of tenderness sneaking into her voice. "She grew into a strong and able woman; she did things people could never even dream to attempt. A beacon of hope in a dark universe." With some effort, she placed the frame back on the desk; he watched as she curled her hand tightly against herself and moved to the window. "And all too soon, that light was snuffed. I…will not insult your intelligence by daring to suggest I'm not bitter about that."
Thane waited a moment before joining her at the window. They stood together and watched the sunset between the skyscrapers on the horizon—or at least, they pretended to. She had already told him far more than she'd probably told anyone in years; it would not be unexpected for her to raise her walls back up and shut him out. The woman clasped her hands at her front and let out a light sigh, the sound puncturing the somewhat uncomfortable silence.
"Dantius was not directly responsible. Greater things stole Caelie's life. But that asari—she used my sister for her own selfish gain, then had the gall to rub it in her face afterward. She played her like a card; no one uses my family like that and expects to continue without consequences." If she thought he did not understand the human turn of phrase, she made no attempt to explain it; pinching at the bridge of her nose, she turned and sat down at her desk after having stood for the better part of their meeting. "I was not there for my sister when she needed me. It is all I can do to enact this small revenge, if not to settle my nerves, then to honor her memory."
He felt a slight drop in his stomach at her words; he understood more than she would ever know. He had not been there for the people he cared for when they needed him, either—and it was too late for the both of them. Hindsight was a bitter pill to swallow. Ms. Teaghan looked up at him expectantly, and for a moment he wondered if she expected him to say something, anything to ease her mind; the possibility was stopped in its tracks when she gestured to the door. Their meeting was over. Now was the time for him to deliver.
The drell nodded curtly, and she gave him a tight smile. Turning on his heel, he quietly exited the room, leaving his employer alone with her thoughts. He did not expect to see her again.