Chapter 6

The Citadel Security forces were responsible for keeping order on an installation the size of a planet. With so many different races and cultures constantly filtering through the Citadel, diplomatic nightmares seemed to be a daily occurrence.

C-Sec Commander Armando Owen-Bailey sat in his swivel chair, staring out the bulletproof glass at the Presidium, which housed all the embassies below. He didn't note the shimmering lake, nor the exotic plants imported from hundreds of planets. All the artifice had been crafted with delicate care to allow for the coexistence of disparate species. All those resources, all that effort, had been expended to create mental ease and well-being.

Bailey pinched the bridge of his nose, turning in his chair to view the two individuals sitting across the table from him. In light of everything he'd just considered, he hoped his associates could understand how truly agitated his "well-being" currently was. The officer considered an edifying lecture.

Bailey frowned at the drell before him. The young man had light green skin, was clad in black leather, and had a detached look about him. Kolyat Krios betrayed no emotion at all. It didn't bother the Commander that Kolyat's reptilian eyes rarely needed to blink. A decade working Citadel Security had drummed such reservations from him long ago.

He shook his head again, scratching at the eye-patch that covered one of his eyes. The requisition was in for his cybernetic replacement, but he could never seem to free up the time for the surgery.

He glared with his good eye at Krios, "son, you are here because Investigator Parasini needs your unique set of skills."

"Anything I should know?" rasped Kolyat.

Bailey shook his head, "better to let the Inspector tell you, it's not the kind of thing that needs to be aired around. Just thinking about it is giving me ulcers…"

A striking young brunette smiled back at him. She was wearing a no-nonsense business suit, the kind that spoke to military precision, if not necessarily rank. Gianna Parasini was one of the Internal Security forces that worked with C-Sec from time to time. Her job primarily dealt with white-collar crimes.

"Contrary to popular belief, sometimes, my work involves more than just paperwork and fancy parties."

"Apparently," rasped the drell, "so why do you need me?"

"I needed the best, and Commander Bailey suggested you…though not by name, of course."

It wasn't common knowledge that he was the son of the late Thane Krios, a master assassin. Most people who knew about Thane were in the Hanar hierarchy, and not willing to talk. Others who might know were dead, and unable to speak in any case.

Kolyat clearly had no desire to educate her on the matter, "I'm sure you, especially, can appreciate the need for discretion, so what's the mission?"

Gianna tossed him a dossier, "some of those faces should be familiar."

The drell picked up the file, flipping through actual pages, "huh."

Parasini smirked, "yeah, I know, old school, but I didn't want to leave a trail, so burn that after you are done reading it. I trust you won't have trouble remembering?"

Krios glanced through the readouts. Like the rest of his species, Kolyat had innate perfect memory. It allowed him to recall anything he desired, and sometimes things he didn't. His people called it 'Solipsism.'

The drell came across the picture of a dour looking man with a thin mustache.

"Elias Kelham? He's still alive?"

Gianna nodded, "yeah, he's been operating under the radar of late. I understand he used to be more of a known presence."

"You could say that," replied Bailey, "I think I preferred it when he was a trumped up hoodlum, paying assassins to do his dirty work."

Kolyat's lips twitched slightly, having been one of those trigger-men in the past. Fortunately, the correspondences had always been via courier, so nobody would ID him anytime soon.

"He's started building up his forces," clarified Parasini, "governing street law as determined by his new associate…"

Kolyat turned to the next page, seeing a nondescript man with pepper gray hair. His smile was all too familiar, and clearly affected.

"Charles…Saracino…the leader of Terra Firma?"

Parasini sighed, "of late, the party's dealings have become…distressing."

"'Humanity First' has always been their creed," said Bailey, "a backlash from before the Reaper War, they say, when their opponents openly campaigned as anti-Human."

"This is different," said the Inspector, "Saracino is putting away more money than needed to support his run for Office."

Kolyat started flipping through manifests for black market shipments. There was no hard evidence, but unmarked containers arriving from the Terminus rarely turned out to be anything but contraband.

"So what's his angle?" asked Kolyat, "he's using diplomatic status to smuggle goods for his new friend Kelham?"

"Perhaps in an effort to buy votes," continued Gianna, "and probably more. Imagine if he gets Kelham weapons and drugs enough to control any underworld traffic in Citadel space."

Kolyat nodded, following the reasoning, "gets in bed with the gangsters, campaigns on cracking down on crime. Kelham forces out the competition, so the public thinks his plan is working…"

"But all we are really getting is more powerful, more organized crime, potentially with control over everything else as well," finished Bailey, "trust me, we don't need people like THEM holding our strings."

Kolyat nodded, "indeed, it seems you've finally managed to break in the current Council…tolerating yet another parade of politicians doesn't seem…tenable."

Bailey sniffed, "well, I DID help them organize the militia Shepard left in our hands. Things are finally working right again…"

Gianna grinned, "from what I hear, Councilor Sparatus owes you an eye, after saving him from a tussle against the Reapers."

"Maybe," the Commander grinned, before sobering, "seriously though, we don't know the scope of what we are dealing with…"

"We'll be stepping on the toes of very well connected people," Gianna nodded, "I didn't expect to find such a hornet's nest…"

"I'll be careful Investigator," said Kolyat, nodding at Parasini.

Bailey sighed, shaking his head, "good luck, son…"

Red and blue neon reflected off the sleek metal vistas of the Upper Wards. The Terra Firma party was holding a rally. The crowd gathered was more varied than Kolyat would have thought. Of course the overly zealous fanatics were there, cheering. Quite a few non-humans were present as well, either apologists or opponents to the radicals.

All of it was background noise. Kolyat had donned a large hooded duster. He preferred the anonymity it provided. If nobody looked closely behind his scarf, one couldn't discern his species at all. The proceedings seemed to be coming to a close. Kolyat didn't care; he wasn't here for the rally anyway.

According to Investigator Parasini, Saracino liked to frequent a bar nearby, most likely to hide his dealings. Unfortunately, it was invite only, and locked up fairly tight, even for Kolyat. Most times, such a thing wouldn't have stopped him, but this wasn't a hit, it was recon, and he needed…a defter touch.

The drell calmly made his way to the outskirts of the crowd, catching sight of what he was looking for. Kolyat smiled, drawing up to an unobtrusive group of street urchins. They started to scatter as he approached, but settled after he whistled to them.

"Greetings, little cousins," said Kolyat.

The youths nodded back at him. It was a code among the Duct Rats. They were the forgotten and overlooked children, who made their homes in the invisible corners of the Citadel. It made them the best spies. And Mouse, one of their few elders, a leader, had been a friend for a while now.

Kolyat hefted a few credits towards one of the lads, "for Mouse's trouble."

He grinned, bringing out another small bag, "and for yours…"

Krios had something of a kinship with the Duct Rats, and couldn't help spoiling them with candy once in a while. Money could be taken, but nobody was going to hassle them over sweets. They nodded to him, all taking eager note.

"How many you want on this?" asked one of the older children.

"One should suffice," he replied, drawing out a small listening device, and a transmitter, "need someone to plant this on the politician, then stay in range to pick up audio."

One of the smaller children snatched both pieces of tech from Kolyat, "try to keep up…cousin!"

In a flash, the child was gone. As trained as Kolyat was in espionage and stealth, he barely saw the Duct Rat vanish into the crowd. Krios nodded, placing a second receiver in his ear.

Kolyat keyed in on Elias Kelham, who seemed to be head of security. It was a front, of course, but that hardly mattered. Before long, Saracino finished his speech, joining Kelham's "security detail" as he exited the stage.

"I'm done with the crowd," grunted the politician, "I have a meeting to attend."

"We're good to go," Kelham nodded, "follow me…"

The drell raised an eyebrow. He was already hearing the conversation. That was fast work, and well done. Kolyat reminded himself to pay the Duct Rat a little extra when this was over…

Kolyat followed the pair, avoiding sight of the thugs in tow. He couldn't help but notice the silence. Saracino wasn't speaking, not even the slightest of vague pleasantries to constituents, just waves and nods. Something was on the man's mind…

All too soon, they entered the bar and club. Kolyat saw a wisp of a shadow slip into the vents nearby. He listened to his earpiece, but got only static. The spy clucked his tongue in disappointment.

Well, he'd expected as much. He'd just have to get the particulars from the device he'd handed the Rat, once the meeting was over…