Chapter III

As Aedri Shepard stepped through the entrance to the shop, a chime went off followed by a recording: "I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel." Aedri never got tired of hearing that.

"Spectre! Come, come! I have it ready for you," the old salarian behind the sales counter said eagerly. Before she could even look around, he was leading her over to a display that had a long rectangular case on it.

The salarian's eyes twitched nervously as he watched her run her hands slowly across the surface of the case. The seconds ticked by slowly as he waited for her to open it.

"I think you will be pleased. Most pleased!" The salarian said and then pressed his hand to his forehead. "Are you hot? Does it feel hot in here? I think I'm hot."

She looked at him and smiled reassuringly. "Velon, you've never let me down."

"Yes, yes, I know that. Of course I know that. Velon keeps his promises! That's my motto. I even have it written on a sign in my store. It says: 'Welcome to Intergalactic Emporium. Shop with confidence, because Velon keeps his promises!'"

"Would it make you happy if I opened this?" She asked, knowing the salarian was suffering.

Velon's eyes widened expectantly. "As the customer wishes. That's another motto! The customer's satisfaction is always first. I just… I know how important this is to you, Aedri. I'm sorry, Spectre."

"Aedri is fine, Velon, as I've told you many times." She said and hit a keypad on the case and the top slid open. She looked into it and her breath caught in her throat. "Velon, it's beautiful!"

The salarian nearly fainted and grabbed the edge of a nearby sales display to steady himself. "You like it then? It's what you wanted?"

She reached down and ran her fingers across the smooth gray metal. "It looks just like the original."

"Oh yes! I was quite insistent, quite insistent that they follow the original design specifically. However, it does have the most modern enhancements. The Trien Corp phase nine biotic capacitors just hit the market a few weeks ago, but I made sure they were included. They increase biotic focus fifteen percent more effectively than the phase eights!"

"Will you have this delivered to my ship?" She said, continuing to stare at the armor in the crate.

"With great pleasure! You are satisfied then?"

She looked at Velon and smiled. "Yes, Velon. You've done a wonderful job."

Velon nodded. "Had to. This shop, my great-grandfather put everything he had into it. Commander Shepard's endorsement increased profits, allowed him to open more shops throughout Council space. My family would not be what it is today without Commander Shepard. That makes Commander Shepard's daughter number one customer!"

She smiled and sealed the case back up. "Velon, I know this was expensive. Please let me pay you something for it."

Velon frowned and shook his head vigorously. "No, you've been a loyal customer for many years. Just as your father was. This is a thank you from my family to yours."

Aedri wrapped the salarian in a hug. "You take care of yourself, ok?"

Velon returned the hug, and then pushed her back and locked her eyes with his. "You aren't coming back are you?"

"Don't worry about me," she replied.

"Wait here!" He said and rushed into the back of the store.

Aedri could hear him in the back mumbling to himself as he dug through crates.

"Where did I put that little bosh'tet?" She heard him say several times. It made her smile. Velon had been just a young salarian fresh from Sur'Kesh when they first met. He'd always gone out of his way to help her and get her the equipment she needed as cheaply as he could.

He came back out a few moments later carrying a small case. "Here," he said as he offered her the case. "Take this. Want you to be safe. Always wanted daughter like you. Too nervous to find salarian wife then. Too old now."

Aedri blushed. "Never too late."

Velon shrugged it off. "Awkward now. Salarian females capable of breeding too young for me. Perhaps just need young salarian model to spice up life."

She nodded. "I think you've earned that."

"You will try to come back."

She nodded. "Yes. I promise."