The door to the elevator opened to the CIC. Shepard stepped out, running a hand through his short, brown hair which was still wet from his recent shower. He held a coffee mug in the other. Kelly Chambers was the first to greet him.

"Good morning, Commander!" She said, bright as sunshine.

"Morning, Chambers." Shepard said before a yawn overtook him. "Excuse me. I don't think I'll ever be half the morning person you are."

"No worries, Commander!" Kelly said smiling. "I will never be half the hero you are!"

Shepard smiled back at his peppy yeoman as he approached his private terminal. Kelly observed where he was going.

"You have no new messages, Commander." She said. "However, Kasumi would like to speak with you when you get the chance. She made it sound rather urgent. She is in the Port Observation Deck. Personally, I'm thankful she's requested you."

"Hmm… Why do you say that?" Asked Shepard.

"Well," Kelly answered. "She's a very closed-off person. I am usually able to read people very well, but she keeps her true feelings and self hidden behind a thick barrier. I mean, she's perfectly nice and willing to talk with people. She just never reveals anything meaningful about herself."

"Thanks, Kelly." Shepard said. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Anytime, Commander."

Shepard took a sip of coffee and headed back to the elevator. That gives me something to do other than shoot the breeze with Joker or join Garrus in mining anyway. I know he hates that job, but seriously. There's only so many times a man can calibrate a gun before he's just piddling.

The commander descended a level further. When the door to the Port Observation Deck slid open, Shepard entered to find Kasumi looking intently at a gray-scale painting. Genuine paint on genuine canvas. Not something found throughout the rest of the Normandy.

"Hey, Shep." Kasumi greeted him without looking over her shoulder. "I was hoping you'd drop by. Although, I'm surprised to see you here so early."

"I always make time for my crew," Shepard stated. He took a seat with his mug in front of the panoramic window displaying a myriad of stars.

"Course! Either that or it's one of those rare days on the Normandy where nothing more pertinent is happening than mining for Element Zero." Kasumi flashed him a smile from under her low hood.

Shepard laughed lightly. "You got me. I'm here all the same."

"Indeed you are. Seems the stars are aligning because my request is time-sensitive, so I'm glad there's time to make a side stop."

"Your 'request,'" Shepard repeated. "That's right. You boarded the Normandy because Cerberus had promised you something."

"Glad you remember, Shep." Kasumi said. "That's precisely why I called you in here this morning. The time has come for me to ask your help."

Kasumi stole a glance back over her shoulder at the painting again. Something in her demeanor changed slightly. Shepard noticed immediately. His now long time role in leadership had honed his people observation skills, which was fortunate given that he had to agree with Chamber's assessment. Even Kasumi's attire kept her true self shrouded in mystery. Her hood cast an ever-present shadow over eyes. Shepard tried to steer the conversation in a personal direction without being invasive. He genuinely wanted to get to know Kasumi as he cared about all of his crew members. Recalling the few details Kasumi had given him regarding her request at their first encounter via the advertisement screen, he remembered the name "Keiji."

"Was that a gift from your partner Keiji?" He asked, gesturing to the painting.

"Not quite. A memento, yes." Kasumi said. She smiled at the memory. "I was hired to steal that painting by an art collector. When I got there, I found that the painting was gone. Another thief had arrived there first and stolen the painting. I tracked him down and tackled him for it. That's how Keiji and I met. Obviously, we never returned the painting to our employers."

"He must have meant a lot to you." Shepard concluded with delicate tone.

"That's so obvious?" Kasumi asked. "Keiji became more to me than just a partner in crime."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Shepard offered his condolences. "I remember you saying Hock was responsible for his…" He left the word unsaid.

"Death." Kasumi finished his statement for him. She had stated it matter-of-factly. Shepard suspected that either time had truly numbed her emotions or she was just maintaining a mask in front of her commander. Chambers would have voted on the latter.

"Does this plan involve Hock, then? Are you seeking revenge for your partner?" Shepard asked.

"Nothing so simple-minded, Shep." Kasumi shook her head. "I wouldn't ask your help for something so silly." Then she added with a devious grin. "Plus, I wouldn't need your help if that's all I wanted."

Kasumi took a seat on the same couch as Shepard. Her casual posture seemed to contradict the seriousness of their conversation.

"This all has to do with a graybox. Keiji's graybox." She explained.

Shepard set aside his empty coffee mug and asked, "That type of implant is illegal, isn't it?"

"Yes, but that's not what gives this one its value. All grayboxes are designed to hold a person's memories and Keiji's did contain personal memories, but it was Keiji's secret that Donovan Hock wanted. He never told me what it was, but he had obtained information regarding the Alliance. Something he feared would result in a war if ever leaked to the public. He encrypted that secret knowledge within his personal memories."

"I see."

"This thing is bigger than me and Keiji, Shep." Kasumi said. "Hock has Keiji's graybox and has undoubtedly been trying to crack the code to access the information Keiji wanted to keep secret. Whatever it is, Hock either thinks or knows that he can benefit from revealing it."

"So, we need to steal back Keiji's graybox to prevent war?"

"Bingo." She responded, but then added sentimentally. "It may be valuable to Hock for the secret data regarding the Alliance, but it's even more valuable to me for the priceless personal memories hidden inside. Maybe I'll finally get to say good-bye."

A moment of silence passed between them. Shepard waited in case she had something to add. Feelings to express. Fears to get off her chest. Instead she just delved straight into the plan.

"So! I told you that now is an opportune time to steal back the graybox. That's because the graybox is located within the walls of Donovan Hock's vault on his personal estate, where soon he will be holding a gala for his other low-life friends. We'll attend, under assumed idents, of course. With all of the distractions of other guests, we should be able to walk right in the front door and steal it from under his nose."

"That sounds like a lot of potential for conflict." Shepard observed.

"Please!" Kasumi waved off his doubts. "Remember who you're working with. I'm a master thief. This will be child's play."

"Do we have a Plan B, just in case?" He asked.

"You mean guns?" Kasumi smiled.

Shepard shrugged and smiled back.

"Don't worry. You'll be armed. Leave the details to me, Shep." Kasumi stood, pulled up her omni-tool, and started typing. "I'll send information regarding departure to your private terminal. Also, you'll need proper attire for the gala." He barely was able to see her wink under the shadow of her hood. "I'll send that up to your captain's quarters."

Shepard stood to leave. As he approached the door, he turned around to say one last thing.

"And Kasumi…"

"Yes?"

"Your need for closure on this isn't 'silly.' I would have been happy to help even if your sole purpose had been revenge. You're my crew. You can always come to me when you need help."