"Commander, are we really going to walk around counting keepers?" Ashley asked.
"Why not? We're walking around anyways, and I'm rather curious about them. Aren't you? Lex replied.
"I am." Kaidan answered as he reached the cab pad. "So where to first, Commander?"
"I guess we'll get Harkin out of the way. I don't want to waste too much of our time, and I really don't think he'll be that helpful." (And I really don't want to spend more time in Chora's Den then I have to.)
Minutes later they were stepping out of the cab and through the doors to the ward. "Chora's Den is just up ahead. We'll get in, get the info, and get out."
"Understood Commander." Kaidan said as he came up next to her. She looked over and was surprised to find him so close. He smiled at her and she felt herself get flustered, she was so distracted that she didn't notice the hit men until she heard him shout. "Hostiles spotted."
"There she is." Shouted one of the assassins. She crouched down and instinctively pulled the Lieutenant down with her.
"How many, Alenko?" She asked him as she pulled out her pistol.
"I counted two, ma'am." He answered, and then he was suddenly awash in blue as he brought up his barrier.
"Williams?" Lex felt a moment of panic when she didn't see the Chief. Damn it, why hadn't she been paying attention.
"On your six, Commander." Ashley replied. Lex realized she hadn't turned the corner yet, and was still on the other side of the wall.
"Alenko, we're going to flank them. You take the left, I'll go right. Make sure they notice you heading that way. Williams, I want you to pick them off as they concentrate on us. Understood?"
"Aye, aye, ma'am." They each replied.
"Alright, go." She stood up and sent a throw in between the two assassins. Hitting neither of them but definitely getting their attention. Alenko did the same and they succeeded in splitting them up. They had one assassin each. Lex took a few shots, but bastard was keeping low to the wall as he rounded the corner.
"Screw this." She huffed and ran up out of cover and straight towards the assassin. He saw his chance and stood. She knew he was hoping to take her down as she ran towards him. Heck he was probably thinking she was an idiot. He took three shots, hitting her with each one. She took some too, but her aim wasn't much of anything while she was running at full speed. Her shields were about to fail and she hoped that Ashley was paying attention. She was almost on top of him as he took the next shot, and she knew that at this range her shields would be no good. She braced herself, but instead of being hit by the assassin's shot she was tripping over his body as he fell forward, the back of his head a bloody mess. She looked back towards where'd she started and saw Ashley give her a big smile. She almost laugh, but then she remembered.
"Alenko!" She turned just in time to see the other assassin fly over the railing. She saw the Lieutenant walking her way, dusting off his hands as if he'd actually picked the guy up with them and thrown him over. He smiled at her and her stomach did a flip.
"All in a day's work, ma'am." And he then he frowned. "Those were Saren's men."
"Yup. Guess I was right about not wanting us to split up." Who knew, her stubbornness at not looking weak in front of Anderson hadn't backfired on her. (Hooray!) "Come on, let's get this over with."
They walked into Chora's Den, and Lex instinctively took a deep breath through her nose. She took a second to savor the familiar smell. Not because she'd ever been to this particular bar, but it because it had been a long time since she'd been in any bar. Her mouth watered and she felt herself clenching her fists. (Get a hold of yourself.)
"Huh" Kaidan looked around. "I see why this place is so popular. It's has quite the, uh, view."
"Hey, Lieutenant? Put your tongue back in your mouth before you trip on it." Ashley scoffed. "A million light years from where humanity began only to find a bar filled with men drooling over half-naked women shaking their asses on stage. I can't decide whether that's funny or sad."
"What? You don't think they're here because of the food?" Kaidan asked.
"Alright, alright. I get it, one of you wants to see the show, the other one wants to save the dancers." Lex sighed. "Come on."
They rounded the bar until they spotted Harkin, thankfully the Captain had thought to send them a picture. Lex approached his table, Kaidan and Ashley close behind.
"Hey there, sweetheart. You looking for some fun? 'Cause I gotta say that solider getup looks real good on that bod of yours." Harkin said, a creepy smirk on his face. (Great, he's one of those drunks) "Why don't you sit your sweet ass down beside old Harkin? Have a drink and we'll see where it goes."
Kaidan had the sudden urge to punch the drunk in front of him. It took all the control he had to stop himself.
Lex looked down at Harkin. "I'd rather drink a cup of acid after chewing on a razor blade."
(Ha! You tell 'em Commander!) Kaidan couldn't help but smile.
"You trying to hurt my feelings? You gotta do better than that. After twenty years with C-Sec, I've been called every name in the book, princess." Harkin replied as he leaned forward on the table, either for effect or because he was trying to hold himself up.
(Ask me to shoot him, Commander, ask me to shoot him.) Kaidan took a deep breath. This was getting harder by the second.
Lex put her hands on the table and leaned towards Harkin. "Call me princess again and you'll be picking your teeth up off the floor." She sneered at him. "Now tell me where I can find Garrus Vakarian."
Harkin raised his arms in surrender and moved back against his chair. "Okay, okay. Just relax. Garrus, you say? Heh, you must be one of Anderson's crew. Poor bastard's still trying to bring Saren down, eh?"
Lex straightened her shoulders and crossed her arms in front of her, making no effort to hide the contempt she felt for the man.
"I know where Garrus is. But you gotta tell me something first. Did the captain let you in on his big secret?" The smirk was back on his face, all earlier threats forgotten in his drunken haze.
"Just tell me what I want to know, Harkin." She was losing what little patience she had. She wanted to hit him, take a shot and get the hell out of the bar. She knew two of those choices were not an option.
"The Captain used to be a Spectre. Didn't know that, did you? It was all very hush-hush. The first human ever given that honor. And then he blew it."
Okay, only one of those choices wasn't an option. It was a good thing her fist were still clenched, she was set to go.
"Screwed up his mission so bad they kicked him out. Of course, he blames Saren. Says the turian set him up."
"Just tell us where Garrus went." She demanded through her clenched jaw. She'd be damned if she was going to discuss Anderson with this asshole.
"Garrus was sniffing around Dr. Michel's office. She runs the med clinic on the other side of the wards. Last I heard, he was going back there."
"I'm outta here." She tuned to her squad. "Let's go, I've had enough of this place."
"Yeah. Good. Go. Let me drink in peace." She heard Harkin mumble as they walked towards the entrance.
"Is that really…wow! It's you!" Some guy exclaimed as he walked up to Lex. "You're Commander Shepard, the hero of Eden Prime! I am so honored to meet you!"
Lex groaned. "Do I know you?"
"Uh, no. No. I'm just a fan. One of your biggest fans, actually." He replied, a big smile on his face. "My name is Conrad Verner. They say you killed more than a hundred geth on Eden Prime!"
(God, I just want to leave, why can't it be that simple.) "Uh, they say a lot of things. I was too busy killing them to count."
"Hey, I know you're probably busy, but do you have time for a quick drink? I'd love to buy you one."
"God, I'd love one!" She replied, as if on auto-pilot. "But, uh, I don't have time for this Conrad. I've got work to do."
Conrad frowned. "Oh, I see how it is. Commander Shepard doesn't have time for the little people." The words flowed from his mouth as if dripping in venom. He stepped to her left and then waved his had in front of her, like he was showing her the door. "Far be it from me to get in your way! You go be a hero." He scowled at her and walked to the other end of the bar.
"Fuck." She cursed, and considered going back up to him.
"Hey Commander, we got time for one drink. That guy looks heartbroken. Bet he'd cheer right back up." Ashley said in encouragement.
Lex felt her shoulders drop and her tightly stretched control began to snap.
Kaidan quickly stepped in, finally realizing the internal battle the Commander was fighting. "Williams, were on duty. The Commander can't stop what she's doing just because some guy can't look past his hero worship and see the bigger picture. Come on, Shepard, we have to find Garrus, that guy will get over it."
Lex straightened her back and nodded at Alenko. "Exactly Lieutenant. Let's get back to work." She'd never been so grateful to someone for saving her ass. She gave him a tight smile, and hoped he realized grateful she was.
Kaidan smiled as he saw the relief wash over Shepard's face. "Yes ma'am, after you." He replied. "Come on, Chief." He was happy he'd been able to help her without giving it away to Ashley. He did feel like kicking himself for not realizing it before. He spent years certain that she'd been kicked out of the Alliance not long after he'd met her. He expected nothing less after talking to the officer that night, and well, seeing her drunk off her ass himself. The only way she could have made it to where she was now was if she had stopped drinking, and apparently it hadn't been easy. Anderson had to know, and that's why he hadn't wanted her to come and talk to Harkin. The Commander was an alcoholic, and standing in the middle of this bar must be hell for her. When she told that Conrad guy that she'd love a drink - that look on her face, that's when it finally dawned on him. And then when Williams practically insisted, well he had to save her from herself.
She watched the Lieutenant as they left Chora's Den. She could practically see him thinking through everything that had just happened. He caught her watching him, and gave her a smile that screamed: I pity you. Her heart dropped, he finally saw it all, he knew without a doubt what she was and he pitied her. Somehow that was worse than the look of disappointed he'd first given her 10 years ago.