Eclipsed
Chapter Four: An Old Debt


Taking a moment to consider what was just said, Anaya frowned before returning to her desk to send a brief message from her terminal. There was something way off about this entire situation. Why was a captain covering for this kid? That wasn't a proven theory, but it was her working one. Wasea had just offered up a scenario that could get Elnora off completely; the kid wouldn't do a day of hard time. The question was what was Wasea's angle? What did she want? Getting confirmation withn seconds, the detective transferred er notes to a datapad and pocketed it.

"I've got to speak with my superiors about this." She dismissed the three officers that had been standing guard by the holding cells and sent them back to their patrols. "Elnora, you're a lucky one. If tis all works out, you'll be let off the hook for this. I'm not a fan of it, but that's how it's looking." Turning to Shepard, she continued. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done here. The Eclipse base is empty, their inventory is being catalogued, a murder was solved, traders were arrested, and I've managed to survive an encounter with a justicar. Something to tell the grandkids someday, and you've just upped my chances of seeing grandkids one day."

"Not a problem." Shepard shook Anaya's offered hand. "It just happened to be encompassed in my own reasons for being here. Glad everything worked out, especially with Samara."

"My advice: value the justicar." Anaya said simply as she headed for the stairs that led to an upper floor. "I've never seen one swear an oath like that and I've never heard of one working with anyone before; or a human at that. They rarely leave asari space, but she's probably seen more in her pursuit of this one fugitive than I will in a lifetime."

"Thank you, I will." Watching Anaya vanish behid the door leading to the stairwell, Shepard turned to leave, but she was stopped just as quickly.

"Shepard." Wasea spoke calmly without the usual coldness in her tone. "Before you leave, a word?"

"Why should I give you five minutes?"

"Given the situation, it may be my last. Humor me." The captain spoke in an almost forced-calm tone as she continued. "The Eclipse will be involved in something near the cargo terminal later this evening. I believe Miranda Lawson is now well aware of that fact."

"You've got my attention." Shepard crossed the bullpen and stood near Wasea's holding cell; green eyes focused on the captain. "What of it?"

"She got her information from an individual named Lanteia.,correct?" At that, Shepard nodded. "With that in mind, you will find a matriarch when you return to the trading floor. She will be in Eternity."

"You're not talking about the bartender, are you?"

"No. Aethyta is indeed a matriarch, but you will know this one." The captain thought for a second before adding: "Given your history, you should have met at least once."

"Alright, so I'm looking for a familiar matriarch. Why?" Shepard crossed her arms. This was almost a circular conversation. Answers, questions, answers, and more questions. "What does she have to do with the op near the cargo terminal?"

"That is not for me to say." Wasea said in an almost mystic voice. This made Shepard uneasy.

"You give me answers that leave me with more questions, Wasea." The spectre stepped back finally. "How do I even know I can trust you? What's your goal here?"

"All in good time, Shepard." The asari replied evenly. "For now, when you encounter this matriarch, inform her that you have come across information on Enyala."

"I haven't." Shepard shook her head to emphasize. "I assume that's a person."

"She is, and you have. You just weren't aware until now. She is leading that operation near the cargo terminal."

"How did you know about that and how do you know Lanteia is Miranda's contact?"

"The first is obvious. It is an eclipse operation, so I would know about it." The tone Wasea used was almost regrettable. "As for how I knew she was Lawson's contact, who do you think gave her the information in the first place?"

"Begging the question why." Shepard resigned herself to this game of endless questions. "I take it that I won't find that out either. Answer me this, though. What's in this for you?"

"That is complicated." Wasea thought for a long moment. It wouldn't do to reveal everything she knew now. Her work was not done, and there were still people that needed dealing with. "Suffice it to say, I am repaying an old debt."

"So, I find a familiar matriarch and let her know I have information on a woman named Enyala. Anything else?"

"If she asks where the information came from, and only if she asks," Wasea made it a point to emphasize that. "Tell her you heard a killer's whisper."

"What?" Shepard blinked. It was obvious that she had no clue what that meant.

"She will understand." Wasea sat down on the bench in the holding cell and leaned forward; chin resting on her clasped hands as she stared at the wall ahead. "Perhaps I will still be here when you return."

"Why wouldn't you be?" Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You're takig the fall and will probably get the maximum due to your history."

"This is a dangerous game, Commander." The captain frowned deeply and in that moment, she realized just how old she felt. "Frankly, I hadn't expected to make it this long."

With that, she said nothing more, and Shepard was left to head back toward the trading floor; hearing her leave, Wasea hoped for her instructions to play out as planned. She didn't have long to ponder the situation, however. While the precinct was empty save for a few officers out of earshot, Elnora spoke her mind.

"Why, Ma'am?"

"Why what?" Wasea could just see Elnora looking at her from the corner of her cell.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked as a clarification. "You didn't order us to kill that volus. We just did."

"Listen very carefully." Wasea said in a stern tone. "I gave you a direct order to eliminate that volus bastard, and you followed it."

"But why defend me?" She persisted, and Wasea's frustration was building slightly. Now was not the time to dwell on the past, and it wasn't the time to make comparisons and confuse the girl more. Still, the answer came out, whether she wanted it to or not.

"Because you're too young!" She hissed; her voice catching and nearly hitching as she said it. "You have over half a millennium ahead of you."

"So you'd throw your life away?" Elnora's tone was one of utter confusion. "You don't know me-"

"I don't have to." Returning her stare to the wall, Wasea spoke in a quieter tone but to where Elnora could still hear every word. "I've seen many a young asari like you, Elnora. They leave home and look to make a place for themselves in this life; whether it be their choice or not." She kept her voice even although thoughts of darker times raged through her mind. "You're invisible, and your hope is that a gun and a reputation will make people see you. Trust me, it won't in the way you hope."

"How do you-"

"It doesn't matter." The captain cut her off. "Understand that I speak from experience and not self-importance when I say this: You will find more worth in the lives you save than in those you destroy."

"I don't get it…" Elnora's head was spinning; it wasn't hard to tell. "First, I thought you'd be pissed that we got caught, and then I see you come out of that base with Shepard and the others. Then, you put a gun to my head and threaten to kill me in front of everyone… Now, you're giving me life advice?"

"Someday, I hope you will understand." Still not looking at the younger asari, Wasea focused on the wall ahead again. "I had to take the actions that I did. Now," Her grey eyes finally settled back on Elnora. "Answer this honestly. You killed the volus. How did that make you feel?"

"I…" Elnora paused to think but she repeated the statement. "I killed him."

"Yes." Wasea nodded. "Up close, modded rounds, blew his suit wide open. Your own words." She repeated the report she had heard from one of her last lieutenants. "How do you feel about that?"

"At first, I was excited." Elnora admitted with slight enthusiasm. "I was amazed and almost thought it was surreal. I had actually killed the bastard."

"And now?"

"I don't like to think about it." That enthusiasm evaporated and turned into revulsion. "It makes me feel uneasy."

"Perhaps it isn't too late, then." The captain said more to herself.

"What are you saying?"

"When you're released, leave that uniform and your burdens behind you. Go and make something of your life." Wasea managed as a few officers returned to the holding area. "Before it's too late."


A/N: As a reminder, this one will be short chapters ad is basically being written to toss out aplot bunny I've been trying to avoid. Still working on "From Ashes", thankfully. Just ironing out some details. Might use elements of this in that story later (when I get to ME2's timeline) As always, thanks for reading!

Cheers!