The Vexa nightclub was one of the ideal places for Nine. She walked through the front doors to the music pounding and a lively crowd. Nothing made her smile more than seeing her friends. Phrixus and Valer were already at their reserved booth. They ordered their drinks and food and told each other jokes and stories.

They hadn't seen each other in months. Each of them had their own hectic lives to handle. They resorted to messages when time permitted. Their get togethers were always planned in advance, never spontaneous. Valer and Nine, as always, left Phrixus in the dust with parts of the conversation. The combination of the fast salarian words and a young woman's chatter left the poor turian few chances to slip in any comments. Phrixus didn't mind it though. It was just good to see the two again. Then Nine let out a long gasp.

"OH! Look! Look! A drell!" Nine's eyes were wide as she beamed at the other side of the room.
"Where?" Valer sat up a little in his seat to look around her. He spotted the brown colored drell, sitting in a booth and drinking alone, "Oh, wow. Wonder what he's doing here."
"Having a drink apparently. No big deal" Phrixus shrugged.
"No big deal?" Nine gasped again, "Drell are an endangered species. Very clearly a male, chocolate color, very hot. This is so awesome!"

"He looks more like dirt color to me." Phrixus took a large bite out of his food.
"Quit staring. It's rude. He'll see you." Valer sat back down.
"Maybe I want him to see me." A sensual look crossed her face as she continued to eye the unaware drell.
"You can't be serious," Valer spoke in a harsh voice, "I can barely stand yours and Phrixus' non-serious flirting. Real cross-species, libidinous relationships. That's disgusting."
"I hear that licking a drell can get a human high," Nine bit the bottom of her lip.
"Oh gods!" Valer put his hand near his red spotted horns, "Stop it."
"I bet he tastes like chocolate."

"That's not true," Phrixus leaned onto the table towards Nine, "Well the chocolate part, I don't know, but it's mouth to mouth contact. With lots of tongue."

"I said stop it!" Valer glowered at Phrixus who returned it with a smile.

"And how would you know, turian?" Nine smirked.

"You're not the first human I've had this conversation with."

"Do you think it was a cross-species, libidinous relationship?" she whispered to Valer who was pretending to not listen while he ate his cold food. She sat up straight, "I bet it's licking. I like licking."

"I'm available you know," Phrixus's mandibles flapped.

"I know. It's so funny and sad at the same time." She chuckled and Valer choked on his food. He grabbed his drink quickly to gulp it down to clear his throat. Nine returned her gaze to the drell, ignoring Phrixus's scowl. Clearing his throat, Valer shook his head.

"I'll never understand it. Never. There's no benefit from it at all," Phrixus opened his mouth to say something, but Valer cut him off, "With the exception of the asari. Other than that, it goes completely against nature's design. Things don't match up," Valer's eyes scanned the room, "Half the females at this club are eyeing that poor guy like a piece of meat. It's just terrible. You're all sick."

"Now who's really being sick here," Phrixus said, "Most everyone is staring because they've never seen a drell before. Not because they want in his pants." In response, Valer tapped his three fingers on the table loudly with a hard glare at Phrixus.

"There are plenty of benefits of cross-species relationships," Nine said, "No unplanned pregnancy and lots of unplanned sex."

"That sounds about right," Phrixus nodded.

"That makes no sense at all! The whole point of..." Valer struggled with his words a little, "...it's for reproduction only. You can't reproduce with another species, therefore it is wrong."

"It's for pleasure," Nine's usual colorless cheeks were full of color now.

"That is nature's way to encourage it. Especially if your species gives painful live birth. In turn, the pleasure is supposed to be with your own species. I don't understand why nature allows it."

"Well you are salarian. Of course you can't understand," Valer narrowed his large black eyes as she spoke, "You, Valer, have the sex drive of a boulder on Noveria's south pole during the winter," she looked back to the drell and caught him as quickly he looked away, "He's staring back at me," she flicked her messy hair over her shoulder.

"You are shedding in my food, mammal!" Valer pulled his plate far away from her. Phrixus chuckled.

"Why not for love? Anything wrong with being in love?" he tilted his head at little. There was awkward silence. Then all three burst into hysterical laughter, swaying around in their seats as if they had far more to drink than they really had.

After a few moments, the three nearly passed out from the hard laughter. Phrixus let out a sigh and noticed that Nine had set her eyes on the drell once again, "Better go nab him now, monkey, before someone who actually brushes her hair and shaves does."

"Shave? What? I thought only the males shaved..." Valer shoved his plate of food away, "Never mind. I don't want to know. Nauseated now. Thanks a lot." Valer dropped his head onto the table with a thud as Nine picked up her drink, "I'm going in," she picked up her drink while Valer dropped his head onto the table with a thud. She barely took a few steps before the drell stood up. He walked away with a revolted look on his face. Before he disappeared into the thick crowd around the dance floor, Nine noted that he tilted his head a little and shot part of that frown beyond her. Phrixus started to laugh wildly again. Nine turned quietly, watching him lean over in his seat, holding his stomach as he laughed. After a short struggle, Valer suddenly broke into laughter as well.

"You really won him over Nine!" Phrixus shouted. Even a few onlookers were chuckling to themselves. She returned to the booth, holding her head high with a distinct pout on her lips.

"It's his loss."

"So, are you done now?" Valer coughed as he calmed himself.

"Yup." Nine sipped from the cup quietly, eyes glued to Phrixus now.

"Don't look at me like that. That was free revenge that you provided for me."

"Pfft, no," she waved her hand at him, "I was just wondering if you, Inspector Phrixus Telamon, had any, you know, interesting work you're involved with right now."

"Nah, just the usual theft and drug busts. Nothing exciting lately."

"Oh." Nine slid her finger around the edge of her glass quietly.

"Oh?" Phrixus beady silver eyes widened a little, "Ooooh."

"I misth somethin?" Valer's mouth was full of the food he had the stomach for again. A ringing noise echoed from Phrixus. He hastily reached to his side and pulled up his omni tool.

"This is Telamon, what is it?"

"Sorry to disturb you so late sir," came a turian's voice, "You don't need to come in, I just need to speak to you privately for a moment."

"Give me a minute. I'll call you back," Phrixus stood up without making any eye contact with Nine, all too willing to leave. "Excuse me." He walked away towards one of the back private rooms, disappearing out of sight around a corner. He stopped by a bouncer, "I just need to use a room privately for about ten or fifteen minutes to make a com call."

"Right, com call," the bouncer had a bit of sarcastic tone in his voice. He nodded down the hallway, "Room 4."

"How many credits?"

"He already paid for you."

"What? Who?"

"Look I don't care, just go."

"Okay," Phrixus walked down the hallway cautiously. He opened the door to room 4 and there stood the drell. " Hey wait a minute," he looked back down the hallway at the bouncer, "this is not what you think!" The drell grabbed Phrixus and pulled him inside, the door shutting behind him. Phrixus shoved him away. "Why are you even here, Sariel?"

"Why did you let her do that?"

"I said I'd talk to her when I had the chance, when Valer was gone. I've got all of C-Sec on high alert for Six, customs is scrutinizing every male human that comes through Citadel docks. You just had to step back I let me handle this part alone. Now why are you here?"

"I was observing."

"She and half the room observed you brooding over there in that booth. I wouldn't doubt that Six'd spot you," Phrixus paced the room a moment, "Though getting you to move backfired, I think she's on to us."

"Not that I really care that she knows at this point, but that's certainly not my fault."

"Well it was your own damn fault."

"You do realize that your presence would deter Six as well. You are Nine's friend. Quite possibly the one that led him to her in the first place, as you did for me. Moreover you are a C-Sec detective while C-Sec is actively searching for him on the Citadel. Otherwise, right now is just to make sure she is safe and has not already met and been deceived by him. At some point you do need to tell her the situation."

"Like I said, when Valer is out of earshot at least. I don't want Valer getting involved, period. He'll just try to take care of Six himself and I'd rather Six be dealt with by proper law,"

"Hrmm...I suppose I agree."

There was a beeping noise at Phrixus's side again, "Look, I've got an important call with C-Sec. Just go brood somewhere in a dark corner where you can't be seen this time, and make sure she doesn't take off, if she hasn't already."

"The three of you truly have a strong friendship. Your trust of the two of them is very praiseworthy. Perhaps that is the real reason she is on to you."

"Just go," Phrixus opened the door. Sariel swiftly walked out without another word.

"That was fast," the bouncer still spoke with the same tone of voice.

"Cretin." Sariel spoke loud and clear, but continued to move without looking at him. The bouncer only stood confused.