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CHAPTER 1

"You're in luck, human. Apparently someone high up the chain of command likes you. You're free to board."

"Finally." Aimee Sanders held out her hand, waving her fingers impatiently. "If I were a real terrorist I would've blasted my way to the ship by now. Nice job." Her voice was impatient, snobish, degrading. Everything she wasn't. "Can I have my sword back now?"

Handling the weapon like it was a live bomb, the turian passed the katana over the counter, mandibles flaring in annoyance. The small booklett of her credentials skidded across the smooth surface. "Watch it, human. Just because you're allowed inside doesn't mean I can't detain you if I feel like you're a danger to the VIPs. Despite what you may think, you're far from the most valuable person on board."

Shrugging her weapon across her back, Aimee flashed a simpering grin at him. "Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't want to embarass you or your men by beating your gunfire with a metal stick. I'm here to have fun, anyway." The booklett dissapeared into her duffel, which she hoised onto her left sholder, leaving her sword-hand free. A glance at her omni-tool's chronometer brought a slight frown. Thirty minutes until the Neptune left port. She'd been in bars with more efficient security.

"Whatever. Just make sure you keep that thing sheathed or in your quarters." The cream-toned turian scrolled through his transluscent screen, tapping several buttons before closing it. "What do you need that relic for, anyway? You're not going to find any dueling partners on this ship or any training rooms, for that matter."

"Who said I use it for dueling?" Aimee winked and whirled around, long golden hair floating behind her as she strolled out of the security office and back into the main areas of the passenger liner. The instant the doors slid shut behind her, she heaved an enormous sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. Of course the start of her cruise wouldn't be easy. Nothing ever was with her. Even booking passage with her privilages had taken time with several snafu's. If she hadn't called in a favor, she would've had to resort to calling her father, an action she'd sworn to never do.

Supressing an involuntary shudder, Aimee straightened and joined the flow of foot traffic to the living areas of the ship. Pale gray eyes flicked everywhere, memorizing every detail while also admiring the finery. The human builders of the Neptune had spared no expense when it came to catering to every species in the galaxy. The walls were lined with holographic scroll messages in every used dialect beneath pieces of art from many worlds. the floor wasn't carpeted, but a very attractive, clean surface as off-white as the rest of the walls.

A family of asari flowed around her; a matron, her two daughters, and a turian who had to be their father. That was interesting. If Aimee had learned her asari ages right, the two girls were more than old enough to be out adventuring, taking advantage of their maiden years before the instincts to settle down came with the onset of matron-hood. Around Aimee's height, the two girls had nearly identical orange-red facial patterns, a striking difference from their azure skin.

"Are you sure you know where you're going, dad?" Grouched one, her red marks resembling an old human crown. Her voice was less elegant than most of her kind, another distinguishing feature. "This looks like we're almost to the human quarters."

The old turian, almost obsidian in coloring with reddish facial tattoos, snorted, mandibles flaring. "I read directions, Lilitha, unlike some people I know. The makerts didn't assign racial living areas. Apparently they adjust the rooms to the needs of the people booking them. We're just two floors up once we reach the next intersection." There was no animosity in his deep voice, just fondness for his family.

The matron sighed, casting a look around. She was more of the lavender shade, a trait she'd passed on to her other daughter. "You didn't have to spend so much, Septimus. I would have been quite happy with something more simple."

"Nonsense. Who knows when we'll all have the same time off again? What's wrong with a little splurging?" The family dissapeared around a corner, taking a lift that was almost too full of passengers.

Aimee kept walking for what felt like a mile. She might have the highest security clearance on the ship, but that didn't mean she had to be given the best accomodations. None of the rooms on the Neptune could be considered spartan. They just became smaller and simpler the farther back one went. Five minutes of walking finally brought her to her lift, which she then took down five more levels before reaching the hallway that led to her room. Just as she thought, as soon as she swiped her pass and the doors slid open, she'd been given one of the smaller rooms on board. It was consistent with her cover as promised. It wasn't as luxurious as the rest of the ship, but it would definately help her avoid attention.

Her omni-tool beeped at her while she tossed her duffel onto her bed. Beep BEEP BEEP Beep. Beep Beep BEEP. Aimee scowled, grumbling beneath her breath. Couldn't they let her have one hour of peace? "What?"

"Now is that the way to greet an old friend?" Purred a turian voice. The communication was audio only, but there was no need for a face.

"Chellik, how in blazing fireballs did you find this channel?" Aimee nearly dropped her katana, her hands were shaking so hard. Quickly, she set it on the bed next to her duffel. She didn't dare move in case she was dreaming. "The Councilor said that only five people besides himself would have acess and I've met all five."

The C-Sec's smirk was almost audible. "Please. Did you think that I'd let the Council steal the best partner I've had in years without saying goodbye first? Don't worry, not even the Specters will be able to trace this back to me, I made sure of that." He paused, his uneasiness carrying over the link. "Why didn't you come see me in person?"

Aimee flinched and blushed as if her friend was in the same room. "I...I'm sorry, Chellik, really. The Councilors were emphatic that I left today. I couldn't convince them otherwise. I tried." The pendant beneath her leather suit seemed to burn like a brand. Her hand strayed to its position above her sternum, tracing its lines out of memory. "They ended up saying that if I tried seeing you in person, you'd be looking for a new job."

"Blasted polititians," Chellik growled. There was so much hate and anger in his tone that Aimee pitied anyone who crossed him the rest of his shift. "This is why I told you not to get too good at your job. Do you know who the snitch is?"

"Even if I did, I'd need your promise you wouldn't beat them to a bloody pulp because of it." Aimee laughed, but even to her it was strained. They hadn't even left the Citadel yet and she was already missing her partner. "How am I supposed to case an entire luxury liner without you, Chellik?"

"Just like you managed that entire casino. Don't worry, Aimee, you're smarter and more capable than you think you are. With luck, nothing will happen and you've just gotten a nice vacation curtesy of the Council's pocket book. If anything does happen, though," Chellik paused, confidence and affection softening his voice. He cleared his throat. "You'll be more than okay. Try and have a good time."

Fighting down her momentary panic, Aimee made herself belive him. "I'll try, honest. With any luck, I'll be back in two weeks bored out of my mind. Keep the kids in line."

Chelik's laugh sounded a little forced. "No promises. Be safe, kid."