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Chapter 7

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone look as bored as you do."

Kaida looked almost childlike when Garrus approached her, leaning her head on one of her hands as she traced circles on her table. She gave him a small smile before continuing her task.

Today was the monthly Weapons Training session. As a requirement, Citadel based ambassadors and other race representatives needed to be taught or trained to use a firearm. The training field was located at an enclosed section of the upper wards, designed to look "outdoorsy" with the green trees and shrubbery—targets were lined meters away from clumsy political hands, Spectres, and expert marksmen.

For the politicians, the open air feel and pre-programmed sunny weather was the perfect time for a social event rather than a training session. They'd pull a few shots then start using the time to talk about their projects and gain connections.

Five days after the indirect declaration of challenge and the entrance into the political battlefield, Garrus was surprised by Kaida's lack of effort to gain more clout. On the other hand, Udina seemed to have capitalized and was spreading not-so-well concealed things about her—as indicated by his also not-so-well concealed dirty looks as the surrounding asari, volus, and salarian politicians listened to him speak. Their laughter and looks—directed at Kaida—were all well on cue.

Garrus restrained himself from shooting too close to them. He had already spent several clips, reveling that he actually got to shoot something "on the field" (this counted, somehat). Switching off the music from his visor, the barrel of his rifle hit the floor as he stood at ease next to his charge.

"Do I look so unproductive to you?" She asked him without looking up, running her hands instead at the condensation of her glass, she tipped the straw to take a sip of her, if Garrus heard right, milkshake. It sounded gross even to him.

"You look like you don't want to be here."

"Not an all too different impression from when I was declared Councilor." She nodded. "I'm sure Udina made sure that everyone knows I despise everyone and anyone in these circles. Sadly, he isn't entirely wrong."

He gripped the butt of his rifle tighter. "And why aren't you doing anything about it?"

Now she looked at him, eyebrow raised. "You really think I didn't take what the boar said to me to heart? That I don't know a threat when I hear one? Think about it, Spectre—if I were to approach anyone here and pulled a few rounds with them, all they would know is that I must be using them for my own ends. Just like any other pig here, surely, but so artlessly that I'll be even more ostracized. It's better to wait, and watch—and listen to the things left unsaid. Besides, being good with a gun usually only impressed those in uniform—or a turian."

She smirked at his look of surprise. Of course. She was reading minds as they spoke, trying to pick up those who stood alone to peek into their thoughts. More so, the lack of alertness made her look lazier—likely, they wouldn't have their guard up so high despite her reputation.

Kaida swirled the contents of her drink slowly before she laid it back on the glass table with a clunk. "Now, your job is to make sure that the vultures keep away from us and look as lethal as you're supposed to be. Even now they think they surround a carcass when in fact a dragon is alive beneath the cadaver of the—" She looked at him from head-to-toe blankly. "Mediocre."

He bared his teeth at her. "Is this how you want to play it now, Kaida?"

She leaned back on her chair, still smiling. "I saw Mearkah go through more rounds and more precisely. And this is Mearkah." He grumbled and she laughed. "You losing your edge from the month you've been off the field, Spectre?"

"What about you, Kaida? When was the last time you held a gun from your glory days?" He tilted his head, studying her as well. She was wearing something besides her usual dress. This time, it had more armor on it but was no less—tantalizing—but close enough to human Alliance wear to pass muster. A fitted one-piece that ended in a skirt till mid-thigh with red and black coloring and steel highlights and coupled with thigh high boots that were welded with enough plating to take on a few hits even without shields. She looked good and no less terrifying than she usually did.

She looked around the open shooting range first, lingering on a spot before she turned back to him, frowning. "Meaning?"

"You're getting flabby around the edges, Shepard."

"Is that impudence I hear from your sub-vocals, Vakarian?"

He lifted his chin up, something he knew humans found annoying from all the times Oriana had talked about Udina's other secretaries doing the same towards her. "Maybe."

Kaida's chair hissed along the grass, uprooting them as it dug into the soil. She took one long drink from her shake before stepping past him towards the makeshift armory they had set up for the occasion. One of the other Spectres, Renille, an asari at least 102 years his senior in the department and a deadly commando, looked up from appraising one of the SMG's for a salarian and turned her gold eyes towards them. She gave Garrus a small smile and a nod which he returned.

Between both of them, however, Shepard had approached one of the disassembled units on the table before putting all the parts together to form an M-6 Carnifex in record speed.

"Councilor Shepard," She smiled a little too knowingly at Kaida. "I think I recognize the look in your eye. Finally up for some shooting practice?"

Kaida cocked the gun. She gripped it lightly in her hands before sighing and shaking her head. "Just thought one of your boys could use a lesson in humility. Also, it seems your mercenary bred wares need more calibrating, Gunnery Chief."

"Hmph, says the fancy popstar. When was the last time you've gone to my family's shooting range?"

"You two know each other?" Garrus asked, blinking.

"Oh, Vakarian. We go way back. Family runs a security company. We protect a few of Kaida's— friends." Garrus opened his mandible to ask but got shot down when Renille ducked behind the counter. She pushed a darker, sleeker model towards Kaida. "Fairly new. Alliance made model. Recently released for N7 operatives but I managed to get a pair. They're calling it the M-11 Suppressor."

"Light on the hand. But it has a beautiful body—" Kaida ran her open palm along the side. "And feels powerful.

Renille winked. "I know how you like your boys, baby. Of course, your pet needs the same model for your little wager." She slid him another gun. "Try to give those models back in one piece, children."

"Aye, ma'am." Shepard motioned for Garrus to follow. They skipped passed the paper targets and went straight for the mannequins. They were well-detailed from head to toe—one human and the other turian. Other than being many times more difficult to shoot, using them probably didn't send out a sign of good will to any of the politicians here, which is why even the Spectres representatives weren't training on them.

Shrugging, Garrus knew Kaida barely gave a shit at this point.

"Call and shoot? Or would you like something more tradition?"

He switched the safety of his gun. "The first. How precise can we make the call?"

"Shell of the ear. Tip of the finger. Placement of organs."

"First who misses losses?"

She cocked her own gun and aimed. "Of course. To make it more interesting I'll take the turian and you'll take the human." She smiled as she pointed her gun to the turian mannequin. "Make the call."


He could have felt sorry for the mannequins but shooting holes through them was way too fun. Of course, a real challenge would have been getting a target while being herded away by a stampede of klixen but this was also a small thrill.

And Kaida was keeping up expertly. John had always been more of a charge in and shoot-at-point-blank-range kind of guy. But at a distance the man was also a mean shot, and what he couldn't hit he always made up with a Pull, Shockwave, or a Singularity. On the other hand, his older sister was more patient and steady. She aimed quickly over all the turian parts he announced and fired, calling his target soon after. Her feet barely shifted from waiting for her turn.

So, he underestimated her shooting abilities. Though she had admitted herself that sniper rifles weren't her thing, she'd been well-trained with all the other weapons from short to middle range.

"Vakarian. Bullet on the left eye."

He turned to her sharply. "You're joking."

"Why, Spectre?" She leaned back on one foot. "Want me to demonstrate? The Suppressor is capable of that kind of precision. Don't argue otherwise."

He grumbled but took aim. "I think you're just being mean."

When he was feeling more confident about his aim to rest his finger on the trigger, evening out the pace of his breath before he felt his muscles relax. He pulled—

"Oh, Saren's here."

And then he missed. He looked at her, eyes wide.

She smiled. "Just kidding."

"You. You cheated!" He looked at his target. The bullet had hit the side of the forehead instead of the eye. All it took was that little distraction, and that little fear, for him to miss that badly (if John were here he would have argued otherwise but John wasn't here).

"How did I cheat? I made an observation in jest. We've been talking and shooting all morning."

"Just admit you would have totally lost if we played fair."

She clicked the safety back on. "There's no such thing as a fair game, Spectre. The mercs you hunt won't wait for you to be ready before they start shooting."

He glared. If he could pout, he probably would too. Those seemed to work for Oriana often enough against Kaida. "You're just trying to distract me from the fact that you cheated to win."

"Don't be mad, Vakarian. Tell you what: why don't I show you something? A little entertainment I learned from an asari tutot, hm?"

"I don't know. I'd rather win a bet against you than know more about you."

She laughed, handing him her gun which he strapped into his free holster. "You'll love it. Let's renew these mannequins."

He stood off a bit to the side while Kaida remained in front a row of more neutral looking targets. She took a deep breath before taking a stance—holding something between both her hands as if there was a shotgun there, she cocked it even and before Garrus could laugh—she aimed—

"Katana."

She pulled her finger where the trigger would have been—but bullets, biotic bullets came out of a gun that wasn't there. The splash damage pattern exactly like the Katana's. What in Spirits name was she—no, just no way.

She took a small step towards the next target, adjusting her stance and her aim.

"Disciple."

Another shot rang. She repeated her motion for the next target.

"Eviscerator."

Bang. Rinse. Repeat.

"Wraith."

Bang.

"Scimitar."

Bang.

"Claymore."

Bang.

Garrus heart raced, blood rushing to all the ends of his body, and if he would admit it to himself—the blood raced to places he'd also rather not talk about.

"Councilor Shepard, that is some fine control of biotics you have there." Garrus heard footsteps behind him.

Kaida looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Councilor Sparatus," She nodded smiling, her turian as fluent and as melodious as it always was. "It's a surprise to see you around here as well."

They shook hands before he turned to Garrus. "Vakarian, you did well on the targets as well. You would have won if not for that one tricky target. Nihlus has been training you well. Send him my regards."

"Thank you, sir."

Garrus held back the urge to cuss at the Spirits because damn he felt pretty damned turned on. Kaida put a comforting hand on his forearm (which wasn't comforting at all). He saluted the Councilor—thanked his armor for preserving his dignity before shaking the Councilor's hand as well.

"Now, I'm pretty sure you have your license—you being here doesn't make much sense, Councilor Shepard."

"I would say the same about you, Councilor Sparatus. Turians barely need to go through this whole event and yet you're here along with several others."

"Well, I need to know what's going on." He motioned for them to start walking. "The generals and I have been making wagers on your competition but then that biotic display. I can't say I've seen a lot asari commandos exhibit that much strength or control."

She smiled, putting a hand on her waist as Sparatus's eyes followed her hand. "I hope you bet on the right horse, Councilor. And if you didn't, it might be better to lie to me."

Councilor Sparatus actually laughed. Garrus would have taken a step back in shock. "I have General Oraka and a few other Generals here with me. Would you like join us for lunch?"

"I would be honored." She smiled at the Councilor before she turned back to Garrus. "Vakarian, kindly return the guns to Spectre V'loka and then join us when you can."

He nodded. Shepard flashed him a smile before falling beside the Councilor and together they walked to a distant table.

Garrus reached the makeshift armory after a slow almost too leisurely walk. Linelle smiled at him and took the two pistols.

"Vakarian?"

Linelle called him before he could turn back. Their eyes met.

She grinned. "I don't blame you."

He narrowed his eyes. "For what?"

"Let's just say." She leaned forward. "I'd have a pretty unfortunate," Her eyes traveled south. "Accident— if I were in your shoes."

Garrus wanted to bury himself under the ground and never come out at the sound of the older Spectre's laughter.


Kaida was looking out the window of the skycar. Her lips were turned upward but her eyes were sharp, studying something below them intently.

"Don't tell me you didn't have all that planned."

"Have all what planned?"

"The contest. And—the stuff after."

She chuckled, crossing her legs. "I did tell you. The only thing that a good shot could attract is a man in uniform or a turian."

"So, you waited for the Councilor to make his appearance." He looked at her from his own view of the Citadel. "And then set it up so he'd take interest."

"Vakarian, I have to say I'm always surprised by your ability to deduce my actions." She scrunched up her nose like she smelled something funny. "Though it makes me feel like a dirty criminal."

He chuckled, crossing his arms. "You're smarter than a criminal though. Not that I was entirely against being used."

She smiled. "True. I did use you. It's hard to court the big fish—but it's worth more than all the little fishes that gather around Udina. Sparatus will still veto me when we make decisions in the Council, surely, because then I would represent an entire system at those times. But at least, as a person, he'll hold me separate from Udina and John—both of whom I know he hates. For now, that is what is important."

Garrus cleared his throat. "I see."

Kaida smiled. "Something on your mind, Vakarian?"

"Hm."

"Yeah?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Uh."

She tilted her head back, closing her eyes. "You better hurry. I'm trying hard to ignore your thoughts and respect your privacy."

He bared his teeth. "Where did you learn to use your biotics that way? How did you—memorize all those guns?"

She smiled again, resting her back against her seat but faced forward, eyes open. "It's more a parlor trick than anything. And I definitely can't use it to kill hordes of enemies. It is very limited. I can do only about eight to nine rounds, maybe one or two more if I feel up to it."

"Huh. But I don't think being able to control your biotics to replicate the power, speed, and splash damage of all the known shotguns available in the market is just any old parlor trick."

She chuckled. "That is true."

"Well?"

"Hm." She faced him. "I did promise that I'd tell you a few things—since you've survived this long."

He moved toward her, hand on the space between them as he leaned on it. "And?"

"You said you'd rather win bets against me than learn more about me."

He groaned, cowl hitting the back of his chair. "Crap, you should never listen to anything I say when I lose."

She laughed a bit before, clearing her throat. "It's not too uncommon. One of my handlers— an asari Matron taught it to me. She was truly a master, and one of the few who stuck with me. Her name was Renee."

"So, she can do the shotgun thing too?"

"Oh, yeah. Asari don't talk about it much but they do have exercises in biotics that they don't really reveal to other cultures. Madam Renee," She laughed a little to herself. "Once used it to draw the attention of her husband, actually. Her control was even finer— she could do the whole SMG and heavy pistol line."

"Let me guess: her husband was turian."

"That he was."

"Spirits. Women are so conniving."

"I can't disagree." She chuckled softly, almost secretly. "Maybe now you can guess how Saren and I—"

"Stop. Stop." He put his hand up. "I never wanted to know. About— anything, regarding any of that."

She smiled, lying back down—looking up at the window on the back of the space car. The light was streaming in even through the tint: it just revealed how pale and tired she looked just then. "I've been lauded as a biotic genius since I was very young—control, power, creativity—all these things come to me easily. Madam Renee said that I didn't need the luxury of 500 years to attain a high level of mastery." She sighed. "Most human biotics and even asari—they believe they practice their biotics. But me?"

Kaida closed her eyes. "I am my biotics."

Garrus hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath before he suddenly relaxed his muscles. There was definitely more to that statement that she let on—but maybe it was one of the million things she wanted him to figure out on his own. He certainly did believe that biotics was the root of everything Kaida did—without it though, well, she wouldn't be any less spirited or less intelligent.

"Kaida?"

"Hm?"

He looked back out the window. "You're definitely more than just your biotics."

She chuckled. "You only say that because I pay you."

They shared a laugh before everything sank into silence. They spent the rest of the ride back to the Ridge looking out their own windows.