Hi, this is my first story on here and I would certainly appreciate any good reviews or any constructive criticism. Hope you guy's enjoy this story and continue to read my new chapters. I try to push out a new chapter once a week, but sometimes life gets in the way. So I will try to keep up to date with my chapter's. Enjoy!

In The End

Chapter I

The offices were empty and dark leaving the hallways silent as Vallok looked through the short briefing letter on his omni-tool. The faint glow of orange lite in the darkness was the only light on in the hallway. He couldn't help but scoff at the message as he began to read what his new assignment detailed.

"Protection duty for a spoiled kid of a politician. He passed the C-Sec Academy tests with flying colors and he had friends in high places recommend him and he got stuck with protection duty."

The message ended and Vallok dropped his arm at his side letting his talons curl into a fist and stared at the wall, going through the letter in his head once again. Lost in thought, he failed to notice the faint footsteps that approached him. An arm rested on his shoulder making him jump a little, making him face the owner of the soon to be detached arm.. Vallok was surprised to find a turian C-Sec officer holding his shoulder with a puzzled but serious face as he examined Vallok.

"Excuse me sir, these C-Sec offices are closed right now. You shouldn't be here unless you are personal."

Vallok chuckled as he reached for his badge to find that it was missing from his the usual slot on his hip.

"Listen I'm with C-Sec and I was a little preoccupied with a message and..."

"Sir, can I see some identification?"

"I don't have it on me, otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Sir, I am going to need you to come with me to the C-Sec Security station."

"Listen I need to go see the Captain in C-Sec, so if you will just let me go."

The C-Sec Officer pushed on Vallok's shoulder in the direction of the C-Sec security station, which Vallok had no intention on visiting. Vallok jerked his shoulder, pulling the officers hand off of him and turned around again. The officer mumbled and pulled his sidearm on Vallok, hoping that he would comply with the demands.

"Let him go Sgt. He's with C-Sec!"

The Officer turned with his eyes wide open to look for the man that had just spoke. The Officer nodded and put his sidearm in its holster and re-clipped the safety belt. He mumbled again and stared at Vallok for a moment before walking down the hallway with speed. Vallok stood in the hallway glaring at the officer until he disappeared behind a corner. He turned quickly to find the owner of the double toned voice only to find a turian half way down the dark hallway. Vallok began jogging to catch up to the turian hoping to thank him for keeping him out of jail.

Vallok rubbed his neck and slowed down to the pace of the turian. "I appreciate that back there."

"No big deal just don't forget your badge again. They tend to frown upon those who don't have the proper I.D. to be here."

Vallok raised his eyebrow plates. "How did you know I was with C-Sec? Have we met before?"

"You are here to see Captain Sereques right?"

"Yeah."

"Follow me."

The turian turned into another dark hallway littered with doors to offices of C-Sec officers. All of them were dark except one in the middle that read Captain Sereques. The turian opened the door leading, Vallok inside gesturing him to sit in the chair as he stood by the door.

"I will be with you in a second, I got something that I have to handle first."

Vallok nodded and the door closed, leaving him alone with the faint sound of passing cars outside the window of the dark office. All the lights were out except for the faint glow of the light on the dark cherry desk that illuminated the pictures and papers that laid scattered. He glanced at the photos, looking at the pictures of what he presumed was the Captain and other figures such as Commander Shepard, and councilor Valern. Vallok stopped and gave the pictures a second look, staring at the image of Captain Sereques which had an eerie resemblance to the turian that just walked him in.

The door opened again and the presumed Captain Sereques sat in the eccentric chair across from Vallok, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I don't get much rest these days, but I take advantage of the fact that almost everyone has went home by now."

The turian sat up to his desk and opened one of the drawers that revealed a bottle of turian brandy and two glasses. He pulled out both the glasses and made a gesture to Vallok, offering him a glass. He shook his hand politely refusing. The turian shrugged and poured a glass for himself and put the brandy back into its proper drawer.

"You must be Vallok. I am Captain Sereques if you haven't figured it out yet, and being me and you are the only two in the building, I am assuming you knew this already?"

Vallok nodded again.

"You do speak English, don't you son?"

Vallok was taken aback by the human expression "Son" but nodded, clearing his throat.

"Yes Sir"

"Good I didn't have much use for an overqualified mute."

Vallok flared his mandibles as the Captain tried to ease the tension, but it only made it more awkward. Most turians, especially in high positions, were not as laid back as the Captain was. He found it odd but he had heard of stranger things.

"Well, no need to waste anymore of your time Vallok, so I will get straight to the point. I assume you have read the assignment briefing that I sent you?"

Vallok nodded, then stopped himself and cleared his throat again. "Yes Sir."

The Captain flared his mandibles, trying to make a smile.

"Good then you know that their ship comes in tomorrow. I couldn't send all of it in an open communiqué so I needed you to come in so I could tell you the rest. Their ship arrives at 600 hours and you need to be there two hours earlier to set up a escape route just in case."

Vallok shook his head out of confusion.

"Sorry Sir but isn't that the job of one of the higher ranking officers?"

"No, the V.I.P.'s security and securing an escape route for her fall's under your responsibilities."

"Sir, I don't know if I can do this."

Sereques shifted papers around looking for something and picked up a folder and opened it.

"Vallok Arus. Graduated with High Honors from C-Sec Academy. Has numerous recommendations from his NCO's on Palaven. Is this the same Vallok that sits in front of me?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, I was hoping I wouldn't have to fire my secretary for giving me the wrong paperwork. You are in charge of her daughter not her mother, your job should be easy! It's up to you Vallok."

Vallok nodded again and turned his eyes away from the Captain as the words rattled through his head once more.

"Alright, I will do my best Sir."

"You make it sound like you had a choice, Private. I was just giving you the option to quit."

Vallok smirked at what he thought was a joke but quickly changed his expression when he looked at the Captain's stern expression.

"You better get home and get some rest Vallok, you have to be there in five hours."

Vallok stood up from the chair and walked toward the door but stopped when the Captain spoke again.

"Wait! I have one last question before you leave."

"Yeah?"

"What does you father think of all this?"

"What does it matter?"

"Your father is a honorable man, you should care."

"I stopped caring when I stopped carrying his name. I would appreciate it if this stayed between you and me."

The Captain nodded and raised his hand, dismissing Vallok. He responded with a salute and walked out closing the door behind him. The hallway was quiet and still dark allowing him a moment to think in peace about his father. He tried his hardest to escape his shadow, but not even the fringes of space could give him the anonymity that he desired.

Vallok shook his head, trying to push the thoughts of his father that plagued his mind into the back of his head. The past was the past and he needed to focus on the future, it was the only thing that mattered. He entered the elevator at the end of the hallway and took it to the main lobby. It was just as dark as the rest of the building except for the emergency lights that light up the doorway that led out of the building. He approached the door and exited, letting him out to the rest of the presidium that bustled with cars and people walking through the dark streets. Approaching the cab call button he couldn't help but wonder who would be awake at this hour anyway? He glared back at the building, still able to see the floor with one lone office that had a light still on. The cab landed allowing Vallok to get in and then took off into the artificial night.

Vallok walked from where the cab that dropped him off through the dark ally behind his apartment building to get to the back door. He arrived at his door and fumbled for the key that was usually with his I.D. and his badge.

"Shit!"

Vallok had totally forgotten about him leaving his badge in the apartment. He cussed to himself and stopped to try to figure something out. The door opened, revealing a slender turian woman that was smiling as she held out her hand, revealing Vallok's I.D. and key. He smiled at the sight of the turian women, but just as soon as the smile came it faded.

"What are you doing here Valerie?"

"What, a girl can't meet her boyfriend coming home from work?"

"A what?"

Vallok stared puzzled at the word 'boyfriend'.

"Its a term the humans use for their partner when they're not married."

"Right. How did you get in here again?"

"I had a key made last week. Remember?"

Vallok shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Valerie scoffed at him.

"It doesn't matter anyways. Did you tell anyone that you were coming here?"

"Just a friend at work. Why?"

"You know why. He still checks in on you to try to find me."

Valerie looked down and played with her feet.

"About that Vallok… I actually came here to talk about us getting bonded."

Vallok shook his head rapidly.

"We talked about this I can't, it wouldn't be right you marrying me. Besides I'm just a C-Sec officer."

"A C-Sec officer. Hardly!" She scoffed "Your family is..."

"Stop! We've had this discussion. I will not take back the family name and you know the media will be all over this. I can see it now: 'C-Sec Officer running from fathers name coming out of hiding to bond with Turian Hierarchy seat member.' I couldn't put you through that Valerie."

"I could handle it, plus why can't we get married under Arus anyways or are you going to never get bonded because you're afraid of being discovered?"

Vallok took a deep breathe and rubbed his neck trying to think. He grabbed Valerie's arm and gently pulled her to his chest. She nuzzled her face into his chest and sighed trying to find the answer in his arms.

"I love you Valerie but you have a career and I'm not going to get you anywhere. Besides this just isn't the right time for this, I have a new assignment and you have your career to worry about."

"Alright, but why can't we use Arus?"

"Because if anybody digs deep enough they will eventually figure out that it isn't my real name.."

She sighed again, trying to take in as much of Vallok as she could. Vallok tried to pull away only to be stopped by Valerie as she pulled his arm towards the bedroom. He smiled at her as she opened the bedroom door, still pulling Vallok along with her as she laid on the bed. He fell to the bed and pressed his lips on hers and stopped.

"Valerie I got to work in 4 hours, I can't do this right now."

She scoffed in disappointment and grabbed Valloks arms and put it around her like a blanket.

"Then just hold me."

Vallok smiled.

"That I can do."

Vallok tried to position himself to kiss her head to find her already asleep, realizing he wasn't too far behind. He laid his head down on the pillow and let his exhaustion take over his body and fell asleep with his mind still stuck on the past.