Here's the next chapter of Soldiers and Spies. I hope you guys like it. I'm trying to really get into the details of Commander Shepard's recovery and Luke's current and future involvement with Cerberus. Please read and review. Enjoy!
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Endless codes passed over the screen as Liara scanned her data feeds. True her operation was small and she only had a few agents, but she had gotten very good at her job. Some things that people thought were meaningless pieces of information were sometimes enough to open a door to a treasure trove of information.
She kept eyeing the maintenance log of a human vessel that stopped at Omega for repairs to its atmospheric interface and shuttle due to freezing temperatures. She had run the numbers six times. The only planet that that ship could have come from with the amount of fuel it purchased was Alchera, and if they landed on the planet they might have found something.
She opened the log for the ship itself as well as the manifest and quickly scrolled through them. The information screamed at her form the datapad. This ship held secrets that someone did not want discovered. They were not on a mere salvage mission. No scrap monger would need a cryogenic pod.
"Excuse the interruption," a drell said stepping into her office. "There's someone asking to speak to you over the network. He says that he is an old friend."
Liara looked up from the logs and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had heard from most of her friends several times within the last few days. Even Mallory had called and checked in with her. "Does he have a name?"
"He would not give one. He said simply to say 'among wolves'."
Liara nearly sprang from her seat despite her companions puzzled look. It had been several weeks since she had heard from Luke, and only he would introduce himself in such a cryptic manner. "Thank you Faren. I will take it in here."
The drell nodded and exited closing the door behind him. Liara knew he would be recording the call. He always did. She was not sure if he meant it to be used as leverage for her or against her.
"It's been a long time, Luke. How have you been?" Liara asked smiling at the man. He looked much better than the last time she had seen him. Fresh cut and clean shaved like he use to be on the Normandy. She could almost smell the alcohol on him during the last call she received from him.
"This isn't a social call. I know what you've been looking for and I want in," Luke stated. Liara started to open her mouth to tell him to be careful about what he said, but he kept going. "I know this line is not secure, but I'll be on Illium in about three days. Have one of your people meet me on the platform. I'll explain more when I see you."
Without another word, the transmission ended. Liara stood looking at the dark screen wondering just what had gotten into Luke. He radiated confidence and focus she had not seen since Claire died. He did not have his old sense of humor back, but he had taken a step in that direction.
I hope Luke knows what he is wading into.
000
Illium and the Citadel shared certain characteristics. Bustling with activity, the busy trade floor and public terminal reminded him of the markets on the Zakera Ward. People were making deals both white, gray, and even black right out in the open. Luke had to mentally hold back to keep himself from trying to get the criminals caught by the authorities.
Though the surroundings differed from his usual scene, Luke's constant vigilance and instincts had kicked themselves into overdrive. Every movement of a person passing by made him weary of an attack. He watched everyone's hands making sure they did not go under their coats.
"Luke Shepard?" a salarian asked as Luke slipped a knapsack over his shoulder.
Without skipping a beat, Luke shook his head and kept moving. "Sorry pal. You got the wrong guy."
Luke kept walking and slipped around the corner before doubling back to get a decent view of the alien. The salarian watched the shuttle empty of passengers before he opened his omni-tool.
Luke crept forward staying out of sight of the salarian and any camera he might have access to until he was within earshot.
"Shepard is not here, sir. What do you want me to do?" the salarian reported. Luke pulled his pistol and smirked. The salarian called his boss a sir. This guy did not work for Liara.
"The Shepard was confirmed to be present on that flight. You missed him. Find him before he gets to T'soni," the employer replied through the comm channel. Luke opened his omni-tool and typed in a hack that he and Tali had written while he was on the Normandy. A proximity audio bug program, it allowed him to listen in on a audio channel and sometimes even trace where a signal was coming from. No such luck with this particular broadcast, but he recognized the encryption. The level of sophistication in the code had only one equal.
"I will handle it, sir," the salarian stated before closing the channel.
Luke smirked and moved forward slowly drawing his pistol. He had to be quick but silent. A duo that he had not yet truly mastered. Pressing the barrel of his gun against the back of the alien's head, Luke cleared his throat.
"No, I don't think you will," Luke said. He reeled back and smashed the grip of his pistol into the salarian's head knocking him to the floor unconscious.
Luke studied the collapsed victim for a moment considering what to do with him. There wasn't a truly inconspicuous way to transport a sleeping salarian across the market floor.
"Now that I'm thinking about it, I should probably have just walked you to Liara's office at gun point. But whatever, hind sight is 20/20," Luke remarked as he pulled the salarian by his arms into a corner before slipping into the lost and found office. Surely there would be something there that would suit his purpose.
000
Liara paced in her office. Worry tore at her heart. Luke's shuttle had arrived almost two hours earlier. If Faren had not gotten to him before the opposition did, then he could be in serious danger.
Just as her dread was starting to get the best of her, Faren entered with his arms crossed looking more confused than anything else.
"Where is Luke? Did you find him?" Liara asked.
"Luke's just fine," a voice said from the doorway behind Faren. Liara glanced over the drell's shoulder to find Luke standing with a knapsack over one shoulder and dragging a large duffle bag.
Liara couldn't help herself. She raced forward and embraced the human. He looked good for being the washed up drunk that her contacts had been reporting to her. The clean shave was a definite improvement, but she could tell from the smell of his clothes and breath he had not quite kicked the drinking habit yet.
"I thought the Broker's agents might have gotten to you first," Liara said releasing Luke. He smiled and patted her shoulder.
"Oh they tried." Luke dragged the duffle over to a chair and unzipped it revealing a Salarian, bound and gagged. As far as Liara could tell, the alien was unconscious.
"Was that really necessary?" Liara asked as Faren helped Luke sit their prisoner down in the chair and tie him to it.
"Knocking him out? Possibly. Putting him in the duffle? Definitely, it would look pretty strange if I was dragging a salarian around by the ankle across the trade floor of Nos Astra," Luke retorted. Liara tried to see the statement as an attempt at humor, but Luke's tone conveyed that he meant business, and only business. The way Luke spoke struck her as unusual. He had an air about him that reminded her of Claire right before a big mission. Serious to a fault with their focus on one thing and one thing only, the success of the mission.
"What are you planning on doing with him?" Liara asked.
"Get answers by any means necessary," Luke said securing the salarian's legs and arms to the chair.
Liara watched as Luke positioned the chair and his prisoner up against the window facing the interior of the room. He then set his pistol on her desk with the barrel pointing at the alien. Using his omni-tool, Luke directed all the lights in room to be focused on the Salarian's face before turning them off. He placed a bag over his prisoner's head.
"What's that for?" Faren asked.
"Cops usually start interrogations in bright rooms and build on what they know about the… interviewee. For something like this, when we don't know that much, it's best to start in darkness and work on what they don't know. The best option is either fear or bribery," Luke paused and looked over at Liara and Faren. "I prefer fear myself."
"What information do you think he has?" Liara asked crossing her arms.
"Well to start, he knows why the Broker wants me and hopefully where he is keeping Claire's body. The sooner we find her the sooner…" Luke stopped mid-sentence. Liara looked at him with concern. He had plans for Claire's body, and he was not sharing, not even with her. She was beginning to realize that Luke was not the same C-sec officer she had met on the Normandy. He had become someone else, something else.
The salarian stirred, groaning at the pain Luke had inflicted. Luke moved like a wild varren stalking its prey, silent and focused. Soon he was right next the the salarian's head.
"I have questions that you are going to answer," Luke said softly. The tone made Liara's blood run cold. She would have expected that tone from someone who was generally concerned for the well-being of the one they were speaking to. Like a close friend warning their buddy that they were in trouble and needed to be careful. "If not, I'm going to find ways to make you suffer so much that you will beg to answer any question I have just to make it stop."
Liara felt the shiver return and slither its way up her spine. Luke may not have been the man she had known on the Normandy, but surely he would not torture someone for information. He could not have changed that much, right?
"I…I don't know anything," the salarian stuttered.
"That's not going to fly with me," Luke stated standing up straight and ripping the bag off his head. "You're an agent for the Shadow Broker tasked with bringing me in. You know a hell of a lot more than you'll admit willingly. I know you have heard the stories about my sister. How she was a great soldier and diplomat, merciful and just. I'm not her. I'm the wolf in Shepard's clothing, and what wolves do best is rip people's throats out."
The salarian visibly swallowed a lump in his throat. Liara could see the advantage of establishing someone's fear and building a basis off of it. This salarian was now in the palm of Luke's hand. He would still have to work for the information that he wanted, but he would get it.
"Let's start with something simple. Why does the Shadow Broker want me?" Luke said pulling a chair up in front of the salarian as the lights turned on. Liara could only imagine how blinding the lights must have been in his face.
"You are looking for Commander Shepard's body. The Broker doesn't want you to find it," the salarian said.
"Which leads to my next question, where is her body? How can we track it down?" Luke leaned in so close that his forehead nearly bumped the salarian's.
"He'll kill me."
"You think I won't!" Luke roared straight into the alien's face. Even Liara jumped at his outburst.
"I can't!" the salarian protested.
"You know what, I don't have to kill you. I'm sure my partners know several people that would love to get their hands on a genuine Broker agent." Luke turned to face Liara. "I'm sure you can think of a few that would give us a good price."
Liara felt a smile tug at her mouth. Luke had not touched the alien since strapping him to the chair. The lights, his yelling, his threats were all devices to weave a web of that the salarian was walking right into.
"I have a client that has offered 3 million credits for a live agent. I'm sure he would make the same offer again," Liara added.
"Make the call," Luke snapped, but before she moved, he put his hand behind his back and waved her off, cancelling his statement.
"The body is being kept at a cryogenic facility in the Horse Head Nebula on Noveria. Peak 9 facility. Lab 121."
"See, that wasn't so bad now was it?" Luke said patting the salarian on the shoulder and slipping the bag back over his head. "But when is the next time that they are moving her and where to?"
Liara looked over at Luke trying to figure out where he was going with this. Why would the Shadow Broker move the body? Could he know that she was tracking it as best she could? If he were moving Claire to keep her hidden, did that mean she was on the right trail?
"The body is moved ever few days to a new facility. You might have two days left before it is moved from Peak 9," the salarian answered.
"If I get there and my sister isn't there, I will come back and hang you by your own entrails. Do I make myself clear?" Luke said leaning in on the salarian and pressing his finger to the alien's forehead.
"I understand."
"You no longer work for the Shadow Broker. You work for Liara T'soni and if she is ever dissatisfied with your service, you will be taking the expressway down to the trade floor," Luke snapped tipping the chair back ever so slightly.
There was something new in Luke. A darkness Liara had never seen before. Maybe it was from his weeks of drinking or the grief of losing his sister. Whatever it was, the man Luke was becoming scared her almost beyond words.
