Thanks for the interest!

Note: The name of this story is completely unrelated to the Disney film.

I'm surprised the following morning, when I arrive at C-Sec and check my email. There's another email from the address I don't recognize from yesterday. Frowning, I open it and almost gasp as I realize it's from the asari Councilor herself. Not from an assistant, but from her.

From: Valois, Fiera

Subject: This morning

Officer Valore, I'm not sure if you received the email I sent you yesterday afternoon, since I haven't received a response for you. I was hoping you might have a few moments to spare today to meet with me. I have heard good things about you, and I have an offer for you to consider.

If you are free, I will be in my office from 12:00 this afternoon until 17:00. I shall await your visit.

Regards and may the Goddess be ever with you.

Councilor Fiera Valois

I sit for a moment, with my morning tea halfway to my mouth as I read the message over again. Why is the asari Councilor showing an interest in me? A nobody. Barely even old enough to be considered an adult. A tiny voice in the back of my mind that sounds remarkably like my mother warns that it's all a little too good to be true and to proceed with caution. I'm too intrigued, though, and more than a little flattered. What could she possibly offer me? What could I possibly offer her?

"Something shock you, Valore?" Kallias Castor asks in a saccharine tone, smirking down at me. "A naughty email perhaps? Too much for you poor little virgin eyes?"

I glare at her, setting my tea aside and closing the email quickly, though I can't think of anything to say in response as usual. Luckily Cassias is within earshot. "Enough, Kallie," he warns, turning cold blue eyes on her while I fume into my tea.

"Aw," Kallie purrs, "Looks like your boyfriend is coming to your rescue." She leans down, lowering her voice so that only eye can hear. "Just remember. I had him first. You'll always be the one who came after me."

"He's not my boyfriend, Kallie," I mutter through gritted teeth, feeling my anger flare. Her eyes widen slightly in amusement.

"Your denial is precious. No need to glow blue at me, little asari," she insists. "And it's Sergeant Castor to you. Is that clear?"

"Yes," I growl, fixing my eyes on her shoulder so I don't have to look into her smug, beautiful face.

"Yes what?" She urges, emphasizing the 'h' in "what".

"Yes, ma'am," I manage to murmur, casting my eyes down and balling my hands into fists so hard that my nails dig into my palms. When she disappears around the corner, I let out the breath I was apparently holding, furious with her; furious with myself for being incompetent and dangerously close to tears. I swore I'd never let anyone bully me again when I left Thessia, but it seems old habits die hard. A shadow falls over me, but I refuse to look up at him. "What?" I bite out sullenly.

"You know better than to let her get under your skin, Valore," Cassias sighs, snatching a tissue out of the box on the edge of my desk and holding it out to me. "Suck it up."

"I'm fine," I dismiss, waving my hand; though I do take the tissue and swat at the corners of my eyes, biting my lower lip to keep it from quivering. I don't even bother to tell him what she said to me about him being my boyfriend and her always being first. There's no need. It's not like that with Cassias and I. It's never been like that with anyone for me. Besides, he's still hung up on Kallie, and I don't want to upset him. "Listen," I say, regaining my composure and changing the subject, "I can't do lunch today. I have an appointment."

"What?" His eyes narrow, "What kind of an appointment?"

Lie, Sasha.

"Oh, it's nothing big. Yearly checkup with the asari healer down at Huerta," I tell him quickly. Cassias gives me a weird look, but doesn't say anything else on the matter. I watch him return to his desk, feeling a slight twinge of guilt as I do and remembering Kallie's words.

You'll always be the one who came after me.

I can't understand why it wounded me so badly, but in one sentence she made the one true friendship I've ever had feel invalid; ugly. She made me feel cheap and worthless and I hate her for it. Which makes me feel guilty because hate is not permitted within the Athame Doctrine; we are sworn to love and protect all as we love and care for ourselves.

I guess I have a lot to learn.

Other than that minor little issue with Kallias in the morning, it's quiet in the C-Sec office. Not even a call. I pick up the data-pad and review my orders for tomorrow. The Commemoration Ceremony is at 10:00, so Cass and I have to be at our posts by 08:00 to receive a debriefing from Director Javik and his team, before we attend the vault. The ceremony will end at 12:30 and will be followed by a reception at Citadel Tower where the Council will receive the public near the monument that was made in the image of Commander Shepard. We will be relieved by the Spectre team after the reception, once everyone has left the Tower and return to C-Sec.

I don't expect it to be very eventful, despite the fact that everyone has been dropping cryptic hints about people trying to break into the vault. What could possibly even be inside it? A weapon? Money? Money and weapons? Isn't that always what it is? I consider trying to get an answer out of the asari Councilor as leverage for accepting whatever offer she has for me.

I excuse myself quietly at 12:00 for lunch, ignoring the look of slightly overdramatic betrayal I receive from Cassias. I quickly check my reflection in the dark windows of our office, making sure the top of my uniform is neatly tucked in. At the moment, I'm thankful I don't have to fuss with hair or makeup.

I approach the receptionist on the Presidium cautiously, half expecting her to turn me away. She's asari, which doesn't exactly comfort me, but to my surprise her dark blue eyes light up and she smiles warmly at me. "Officer Valore," her voice is flattering and gentle. I can tell she's trying to impress me. "Councilor Valois is expecting you."

"Oh," I murmur, taken aback. "You know who I am?"

"Of course," the asari answers smoothly, standing and moving around the desk with a data-pad. "It's my job to make sure I'm aware of all of the Councilors' appointments. Can I fetch you anything? Tea? Coffee? Water?"

"Oh, I'm…" I shake my head, "No, thank you."

"Very good," she answers as if I've just told her the solution to an equation. "I'll let Councilor Valois know that you are here." She stoops slightly, pressing a button on the comm. "Councilor. Officer Valore is here to see you."

"Perfect," the Councilor's smooth voice comes over the speaker. "Send her in please."

"Of course," the asari receptionist answers with a smile. (Honestly her excessive cheerfulness is kind of setting my teeth on edge.) "You'll just want to go up these stairs, then take the hallway to the right. Councilor Valois' office is at the end of the hall."

"Thank you," I tell her, heading for the stairs. The back of my neck tingles as I feel the heat of the asari's eyes on my back the entire way. It's unnerving.

Before I can even lift my hand to knock, the door to the Councilor's office slides open, revealing Fiera Valois in a perfectly tailored business suit, not unlike the one I've seen female human diplomats wear. On her feet, she wears a pair of expensive heels. I suppose if she were human, she would have a perfectly coiffed head of hair as well. She's beautiful and powerful and she knows it. Yet, I can't help but admire her. Many asari are ashamed that we're all female. They try to hide their femininity to prove how tough they are. This asari is proud that she is female. She wears her beauty like a badge of honor.

"You're prompt," she speaks, smiling brightly at me as if I'm her favorite person, "I like that."

"Oh," I say, clearing my throat nervously. "My lunch time is at twelve, so…" I trail off, standing awkwardly with my hands at my sides, frozen in place.

"Ah, so you're prompt by convenience," she muses. "Don't worry," she adds conspiratorially, "I won't tell." Gesturing with a flick of her hand for me to sit in the plush chair beside her desk, I do as she bids, drawing from the etiquette lessons I had in school and sitting properly with my hands in my lap. "I suppose you're wondering why it is I've contacted you."

"Well frankly, yes," I admit, feeling my cheeks turn violet. A light chuckle emerges from her throat as she pours herself a cup of what looks like tea from an exquisite porcelain teapot into an equally exquisite cup. She offers me a cup, but I decline, already jittery from the tea I had earlier. I watch, practically holding my breath as she takes a delicate sip of the tea, sets the cup aside and gracefully dabs at the corner of her mouth with a cloth napkin. My eyes fall on her nails, which are perfectly manicured and painted a bold shade of red, matching both her suit and the markings around her face. Meticulously, she reaches for a data-pad and brings something up on it, turning it so I can see.

"Myself and the other Councilors met with Director Javik yesterday. He informed us of his choice to place you and Cassias Cyprian in charge of guarding the vault tomorrow. I was somewhat concerned, I must admit, since you are so very young still." Her eyes meet mine. "No offense, dear."

"Oh, I understand," I assure her, feeling my face grow even warmer in embarrassment. "You want to take me off the assignment." I sag slightly in defeat, thinking of who she might put in my place. Kallias Castor? I nearly gag at the thought of Cassias and Kallie alone in the Citadel Archives together, which is ridiculous, because why shouldn't Kallie be assigned to that position? She is a Sergeant in the force. She has proven her worth and has worked her way up the chain of command just like all of the rest of us have to.

"On the contrary," the Councilor answers, shocking me. "Upon looking at your record with C-Sec and your remarkable achievements in school on Thessia, I can't deny that you are likely the most qualified person for this assignment." She clasps her hands together. "What I don't understand, Officer Valore, is why you are wasting your days working for Citadel Security." She puts her hands up in quick surrender. "Not that it isn't good, honest work you're doing for us, Ms. Valore, but I think your talents would be better utilized elsewhere." She regards the data-pad again. "I see here that you have a Master's degree in engineering and applied physics specializing in advanced weaponry? This is impressive."

"Thank you…" I reply modestly, blinking several times in confusion.

"Ms. Valore, I am going to tell you something in confidence," she continues, setting the data-pad aside and taking another sip of tea. "I am working on the prototype for a state of the art starship. We've been trying to keep this quiet, but we are on the brink of a war with the batarians. Since the destruction of the Bahak system decades ago, they have become thirsty for blood and have allied themselves with the Vorcha. I have heard whispers that they have been trying to recruit people from other races as well. They want to become rulers of this galaxy as the Protheans once ruled. They wish to enslave us all and they are using Vorcha as their minions."

"Why are you telling me this, Councilor?" I ask quietly, wringing my hands. I don't want to think about war and I shudder to think of what would happen if the batarians won an intergalactic Civil War.

"We don't have a Commander Shepard with us to save the day again this time," Councilor Valois sighs, "We must prepare ourselves for the worst if negotiations with the batarian Kezier fall through." Her eyes meet mine squarely. "Which brings me to my offer. I would like you to come to work for my personal weapons development team. You would be working under Dr. Melcior Pintha, the most renowned physicist in Citadel space." My eyes widen, recognizing the name. Dr. Pintha is the most lauded salarian physicist in generations. He has singlehandedly helped develop smaller drive cores for new ships that give twice as much power as the original cutting edge Tantalus core. I was lucky enough to see him speak about it once at university. To work with such a genius would be a dream come true.

Councilor Valois beams at me. "Ah, so you've heard of him. Marvelous mind, truly," she continues, clapping her hands together. "So, you'll consider it?"

"What's the catch?" I ask, finally returning to my senses and regaining control of my mind. My mother would go into conniptions if she knew I was considering working on a heavy duty warship for possible Civil War.

"No catch," Valois tells me, gingerly sipping her tea. "I have always hated seeing wasted potential, and with the possibility of war on the horizon, I need the best of the best on my side. I have always had the best interest of the galaxy at heart. It's why I got into politics, you see. I only want to make things as perfect as possible. I long for a time of peace and harmony; when we can travel this galaxy freely without the fear of being attacked by pirates and mercenaries. You are one of the best, and I would be remiss in my duty to this Council and this galaxy if I did not implore you to join our cause."

"I…" I trail off, speechless for a moment. My mind is racing. If I accept this job, my pay grade will undoubtedly rise, I could afford a nicer apartment. I could take more vacations to Thessia and visit with Mother. I can make a difference. I will be making more money than Kallias Castor. "Can I think about it?" I hear myself ask, even though my mind is berating me for not accepting immediately. The Councilor nods graciously, smiling gently at me.

"Of course, Ms. Valois," she assures me in a kind tone. "Take some time, though I must have your answer by the end of the month so that we can make travel arrangements for you. You understand that the facility we're working out of is under top surveillance in a secret location." I swallow hard. Leave the Citadel? My life? Cassias? C-Sec?

"It's just…I have to speak to my mother and…I need to weigh my options," I add sheepishly, feeling every inch the dumb kid I am for a moment.

"You must be very close," she says, almost sounding wistful for a moment. I swallow for a moment, looking down at my hands clasped atop her desk.

"We used to be," I confess. "We've sort of…drifted apart these past few years."

"I completely understand," the asari agrees, reaching across the desk and placing one of her hands over both of mine. "My mother and I were estranged for a very long time. We drifted apart and then she died and I lost my chance to tell her how much I cared for her. She was a wonderful woman."

"I am sorry," I say sincerely, thinking of my mother, who is wonderful, if not slightly overbearing and protective. I love her very dearly, but at times she smothered me and other times, she was uncharacteristically distant. I've always suspected she had many secrets, though I have never been brave enough to ask her about them.

"Thank you," the Councilor removes her hand from mine and takes a tissue, dabbing delicately at the corners of her eyes. "But it has been a very long time since she passed." She leans forward. "Cherish your time together, Ms. Valois."

"Oh, er…you can call me Sasha," I tell her, feeling strange to hear my name spoken so formally.

"What an interesting name," Valois considers aloud. "Sasha is not a common name. Were you named for a relative?"

"Oh, my mother was an only child," I explain, noticing her smile falter slightly in what I assume to be interest. "She has half-sisters on her father's side, but she never knew them until after I was born."

"I see," Valois nods, keeping her smile. "And…your father?"

I stare at her, unblinking as her words echo in my ears. I know nothing about the asari who fathered me. Mother has never spoken of her, and I have never inquired. I assume it either ended badly with them, or my father died. It's almost a relief not knowing. "I never knew her," I admit. "She was another asari." I bow my head in slight humiliation. "I…I am a pureblood."

"Oh, I see." Her voice is low. "And…you know nothing about this asari? Not even her name?"

"No, ma'am," I shake my head, bringing my eyes up slowly to meet her. I wonder if she'll rescind her offer, knowing what she does about me now. "I'll understand if you want to withdraw your offer."

Her eyes fill with confusion, before she shakes her head. "Oh, nonsense," she scoffs. "You've been tested I assume?"

"Yes," I affirm. "When I was twenty-five and again at forty."

"My offer stands," she insists, rising. I hurry to my feet too, pulling hands behind my back. "I have complete faith in your assignment to the vault tomorrow." She puts her hand out for me to shake. "We asari must stick together, yes?"

"Y-yes," I agree, feeling a swell of pride rush through me. I have been chosen by the asari Councilor. I am not a nobody. Not anymore. My mother will finally be able to speak to her friends with pride that her daughter's degree is being put to good use. That the tuition money she paid for me was not a waste.

"I shall await your answer, Sasha," Councilor Valois tells me, showing me to the door. "Thank you," her eyes meet mine.

"Thank you, Councilor," I manage to utter, before I step out into the hallway and the door slides closed, concealing the bright red of her suit behind it's metal shield. I drift back down the stairs, waving half-heartedly at the overly chipper receptionist as I head up to the Commons in the hopes of grabbing something quick to eat before I have to head back to the office.

I've very nearly reached the food stand that sells my favorite sushi, when I trip, lurching forward and nearly knocking the poor salarian running the stand over.

"You know," a voice says snidely, "for a C-Sec officer, you sure aren't coordinated." I cringe, knowing what I'm about to face. I force myself to look up and see Carly Hess, my human co-worker standing there. She's always been slightly hostile to me, though I've never even had a conversation with her.

"I do fine when people don't trip me," I answer back in the sweetest tone I can handle. "Maybe you should watch where you put your feet."

"Well, well, well…the bitch has claws." She glares at me. "I knew it was only a matter of time before your inner asari skank reared her ugly head."

"Really?" I ask, incredulously. "You have a problem with me? Look in a mirror, Hess. I have better things to do than listen to your racist bullshit, okay?" My eyes fall on a turian couple sitting at Plato's. "Excuse me," I sigh, brushing roughly past her, ignoring her huffy protest. I watch in horrified disgust as Kallias Castor sits across from Cassias, holding his hands in hers and batting her big green eyes at him, despite the fact that she dumped him months ago, and despite the fact that she is currently secretly dating the son of the turian Primarch. This isn't about Cass. It's about me. And the smug look on her face when she catches sight of me tells me she knows it. Cassias turns around, seeing me and gives me a contrite expression. He knows he's an idiot. I know he's an idiot. I can't help him. I roll my eyes at him, scowling at them both and whirl on my heel, lunch forgotten. I'll just eat something out of the vending machine. Anything is better than watching my best friend pilot the SSV Dumbass into the Moron Relay.

"Ugh, not this again," Ona's voice comes from nearby. I glance in her direction, grateful for some kind of back up. "Will he never learn? She's such an attention slut."

"This isn't about him," I sigh. "She's got it in her head that I like him, so she's trying to make my life miserable."

"Do you have a thing for Cass?" Ona asks, barely able to hide her mischievous grin. I give her a baleful glance.

"Of course not!" I scoff. "Goddess, it's Cassias, Ona."

"Yeah, so?" She shrugs. "You'd be way better for him than…" she nods toward them. "…that." I stand with my arms crossed tightly, shaking my head repeatedly. Her eyes fill with devilish humor. "Plus you're about fourteen shades of purple right now."

"Oh, Goddess…" I groan, bringing my hands to my cheeks.

"Why do you let her treat you like that, Sasha?" Ona demands with her hands on her hips, bright eyes flashing. "It pisses me off."

"Why?" I ask, bemused.

Ona stares at me as if I've lost my mind. "Because I'm your friend, you idiot!" She smacks me on the shoulder. I stare blankly at the shoulder she just struck, somewhat surprised by the fact that I have two friends. I mean, Ona and I have hung out in the sense that she's hung out with Cassias and me a few times. But I never thought that she actually considered me a friend. That's new.

I have two friends.

"You know," she goes on, "If that was me…I'd teach her a lesson."

"What do you mean?" I have no idea what she's referring to.

"Go over there, and mark your territory!" Ona insists, nudging me toward them. I freeze on the spot, realizing what she's implying.

"Ona," my hands go up in defense, "Cass and I…it's not…we're not…I don't…"

"Well I know that, silly," Ona laughs, "But apparently she," she nods to Kallias, "doesn't. Just go slap one on him." Her voice lowers, "Oh and try to get a pic of his face I can send to Marius. It ought to be priceless."

"Ona," I attempt to regulate my voice. "I am not going to go and slap one on him. Cassias is my best friend. There is nothing between us."

"Keelah," Ona smirks, "You sound like Shelai in Fleet and Flotilla. All she did was whine about how much she didn't love Bellicus until he almost died and she had to nurse him back to health."

"You're comparing my life to some trashy romance movie?" I mutter dryly.

Ona's mouth falls open. "Trashy romance—?" She clicks her tongue in disapproval. "You've never seen it, have you?"

"No," I shrug. "I don't see what that has to do with—"

"Okay, that's it. Movie night. Me and you. No Cassias. Girl's night. Soon. Deal?"

"I…" My eyes have begun to glaze over from lack of blinking. "Alright." Ona frowns, seeing the time.

"Damn. I have to get back to work. Salvage equipment isn't going to sell itself you know." She jabs her thumb toward Kallie and Cass. "But you should seriously teach that bitch a lesson."

"Ona—"

"Alright, alright…I'm done." She snickers, before disappearing through the crowd. I discreetly look back over my shoulder. Kallias is leaning suggestively over the table, trailing her finger down Cassias' arm. He looks genuinely confused. I take pity on the poor idiot and plaster a smile on my face. Kallias brightens at the sight of me.

"Aw, somebody's jealous," she says, chuckling at Cassias, who obviously has no clue what the hell she's talking about. (Because there's nothing between us.)

"How'd your check up go?" Cass asks, motioning for me to sit down beside him. I notice his eyes are narrowed on me.

I give him a nonchalant shrug. "Fine."

"Are you sick?" Kallie asks, feigning concern. I think of Councilor Valois, who would know exactly how to handle this bitch. She'd play nice, but she's smart enough to make Kallias doubt herself without flinging one insult. I remember that Valois picked me for a top secret government project off-Citadel. I am a highly qualified asari with a Master's degree in engineering. I adopt what I hope is my best "Councilor Valois" expression and calmly clasp my hands on the table in front of me.

"No, I'm quite well," I smile genuinely at her. "I do thank you for your concern though. It was quite an eventful visit, however. I heard whispers that the Primarch's son caught some sort of venereal disease…" At the widening of her eyes, I add, "From a human. Can you imagine?" With a calm smile, I accept a glass of water from the waitress who has just appeared and I quietly thank her. Kallias excuses herself, making a hasty exit, presumably on her way to Huerta for a quick "check-up".

"You are terrible," Cassias hisses, though I sense a hint of laugh in his voice.

"Serves her right," I dismiss, relaxing for the first time all day. "Screwing you over for that sleazy turian pile of krogan shit."

"What's gotten into you?" Cassias chuckles, shaking his head at me. "I like it."

I meet his eyes with half a smile. "Me too." I sigh, noticing the time. "Come on, Cyprian. We better get back to work. We have a lot of catching up to do before tomorrow. We have to be up early for debriefing."

"Don't remind me," he groans. "Why the hell are you so cheerful about it? You hate mornings."

"I guess I'm just glad to be doing something other than incident reports," I laugh, shoving him. "You may like comforting little old ladies who crash their cars into raging bitches, but I'm not that into it."

"Well, you're freaking me out," he quips, elbowing me back. I meet his eyes and it seems like he wants to ask me something, but he doesn't, falling into step beside me.

We walk back to work in amiable silence and my thoughts turn to tomorrow.

Next chapter things start moving. :)