A Matter of Time and Space
FULL DISCLOSURE
C-Sec Surveillance Base, Presidium, Citadel – 14:30 GSD – 12th May 2185 CE
Amélia T'Rani watched the bank of monitors in front of her. The live feed from the secret cameras Valni and Zaalia were wearing clearly showed the four armed LOKI Mechs pointing their weapons directly at her turian operatives.
T'Rani spoke into her microphone "Don't panic and just keep him talking," she advised before adding reassuringly. "Bakshi is not going to shoot anyone at his daughter's wedding"
Then T'Rani hurriedly switched off the microphone on her headset and hit the direct comm-link to C-Sec Headquarters.
"This is Maven T'Rani, code 23945-Alpha. Officers in danger. I have a possible hostage situation at the Bakshi Estate. I need a response team there immediately."
"Aknowledged," a voice on the other end answered. "Be advised: Officers have already been dispatched to that location."
"They've already been sent?" T'Rani asked in mild astonishment. "Who called them?"
Valni and Zaalia remained very still as they eyed the Mechs warily, their hands raised in an attempt to seem as non-threatening as possible.
"You mean this isn't the Ladies Room?" Zaalia asked innocently. She tried a coy smile which was probably lost on the scowling Bakshi. "I told you we should have turned left
"I don't believe you'd shoot anyone on your daughter's special day, Mr Bakshi," Valni told him.
"Only if you force my hand," Bakshi replied. "I will use any means to defend my family and myself against intruders." His frown deepened. "And just so you know, the last person who tried to steal from me ended up spaced out of the nearest airlock," he threatened.
"We can talk about this. I'm sure you wouldn't want to do anything rash to upset the Hierarchy," Valni suggested. "We have been very good customers. An incident like this would sour relations with your company."
"You think I'd put my business interests ahead of my family's safety?" Bakshi snapped. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Why would the Hierarchy send someone to steal my files? I'm finding it hard to believe your Government would order such a thing." Bakshi was quiet for a moment, then glanced down, thinking. "But, I did invite the Councillor personally. The fact you're here instead of him means this theft would not have happened without his authorisation." He looked up at them. "Is the Councillor involved?"
Valni and Zaalia shared a concerned glance. Bakshi was rapidly making connections and deductions that incriminated the Turian Councillor. They had to act quickly now to divert suspicion, but Bakshi was still talking.
"I'd like to know who you work for. Is the Councillor acting alone? Which of my rivals sent you?"
"Help is on the way. It'll take a while to download his computer through the shields. Just keep him talking," T'Rani murmured in her ear.
"We're not industrial spies, Mr Bakshi," Valni told him.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"If you thought we were guilty you'd have already made good on your threats and shot us. The fact we're still talking means you doubt our intent," Zaalia said.
"It is unusual to see turian thieves, I'll grant you," Bakshi mused. "Your species are usually so honest in your dealings."
"We do our best," Valni said lightly, trying to keep him talking. "But we're not here to steal industrial secrets… Well, that's not entirely true, but we're not doing it for a rival company."
"You're not very good at this undercover thing, are you?" Zaalia whispered to her between her mandibles.
"This is my daughter's day! I know the Councillor is involved. I know he sent you. But who else are you taking orders from?"
"Would you believe me if we said we were acting alone?" Valni asked.
"Not in the least," Bakshi snapped. "What are you looking for?" He was rapidly losing his temper. "Answer me now or so help me I will shoot you now!"
"And we don't have kinetic barriers," Zaalia hissed softly. "Any suggestions?"
"You have to the count of three…" Bakshi said.
"We can't let him implicate the Councillor!" T'Rani's voice said.
"One!" Bakshi called out.
"You're making a big mistake…" Valni insisted. "We are trying to help you,"
"Two!"
"See, this is why I prefer armour…" Zaalia added.
"Whatever you're gonna do, do it quick," T'Rani's voice advised.
"Three!"
"We work for C-Sec, Mr Bakshi!"
Bakshi hesitated; he glared at Valni and Zaalia with suspicion. "You're C-Sec officers now?"
"Citadel Combined Taskforce," Valni confirmed. "I was hired by Executor Pallin."
"So much for remaining undercover," T'Rani's voice muttered.
"Why should I believe you?" Bakshi demanded.
"You don't have to believe us, but you will have to explain yourself to our C-Sec reinforcements when they get here."
"You have called them, too?" Bakshi asked.
"Wait, did you call C-Sec?" Zaalia queried.
"Yes," Bakshi replied. "As soon as you tripped the silent alarm on the computer it alerted Citadel Headquarters. My rivals have made two attempts to steal my work. That's why I keep the Mechs around and shield my house. When C-Sec gets here they will verify your identity, and you better be telling me the truth!"
"Hang on, so what was with those threats to have us spaced?" Zaalia demanded.
Bakshi waved his hand airily. "Bravado. I was hoping you would spill some of your company's secrets before C-Sec arrested you."
"Then, may we put our hands down?" Valni asked.
"No!" Bakshi said firmly. "I am still angry you would break into my home and try to steal from me. What were you looking for?"
"Plans for a base you were making on behalf of a vorcha client."
"The development on Eingana? Why? That was just standard equipment for a vorcha colony. It was all legitimate."
Zaalia frowned at the mention of the vorcha. "Why? Why make deals with them? They're vorcha."
"I don't discriminate," Bakshi replied simply. "They needed help building a colony. And I was careful. I followed the money trail. The project was being funded by a private asari company. It was all legitimate," he repeated.
Valni shook her head. "That 'legitimate' source is a front. Your true client is the Blood Pack."
Bakshi's face froze. He stared in mute shock at the turians for several seconds before speaking again. "I assume you can prove that?"
"We intercepted your video calls. Gryll, the vorcha you liaised with, is the second in command to the Blood Pack leader, Kreete. He's the one who ordered the modular constructs for the colony. We suspect they're building a base of operations to incarcerate smuggled slaves."
Valni prided herself on her ability to read human facial expressions and Bakshi's face was creased in what looked like genuine shock. "I… I had no idea," he stammered. "You must believe me; I thought I was working with a lawful company. I had no intention of dealing with mercenaries, let alone slavers."
"Then help us, Mr Bakshi. Your cooperation will help our investigation. And any information you can provide will certainly impress the Turian Councillor. It doesn't hurt to have a member of the Hierarchy in your debt."
Bakshi ran his fingers through his thick hair. "Well, after this, I can stop the materials from going through."
"No!" Valni insisted. She lowered her arms and shook the circulation back into them. "You do that and the Blood Pack will know their operation's been compromised. They'll abandon the site and we'll lose our best lead to find out what they're up to."
"The plans for their base were the only things we wanted," Zaalia added. "Let us have that and we can leave without alerting the Blood Pack you've been made."
Bakshi's expression was torn. "Why didn't you just come to me? I would have cooperated if I'd known."
"Because, honestly, we didn't know how deeply you were mixed up in this. And we couldn't risk you destroying the evidence if we'd confronted you."
There was an uncomfortable silence as Valni and Zaalia glanced at one another. Understanding swept across Bakshi's features.
"You thought I was working with the Blood Pack? No! I am an honest businessman."
"You're right, we didn't know if you were an innocent party in all this. But, on the other hand, if they find out you've given us the plans they may try to assassinate you. This was to protect you as much as the operation."
Bakshi nodded slowly, dejectedly. His omni-tool appeared around his left arm and he deactivated the LOKI Mechs. The Mechs lowered their weapons and stood like statues in the room.
"The colony is being constructed on Eingana in the Omega Nebula. I will give you the plans freely. But C-Sec will be here shortly," he added. "Assuming they haven't already arrived. That's going to cause a problem. I have press covering my daughter's wedding. If it gets out that C-Sec officers were working undercover…"
At that moment a figure appeared behind Bakshi. The woman in the gold sari was standing in the doorway.
"Sir, C-Sec have landed three skycars and are demanding to see you," she explained, casting a curious glance at Valni and Zaalia.
"Thank you, I will be out shortly," Bakshi replied. The woman withdrew. "This could complicate matters," he added once the assistant had gone.
"How are we going to explain a squad of C-Sec skycars to the press?" Zaalia asked.
Valni suddenly had a flash of inspiration. In that moment, she realised what had to be done. "We have to be arrested," she announced. "We have to be publically thrown out of your house."
Bakshi nodded again. "You're right. But the charge will have to be something severe enough to explain why I called so many officers."
T'Rani pushed her way through the crowds at C-Sec Headquarters on Zakera Ward.
A little while after downloading all the plans for the vorcha colony from Bakshi's computer Valni and Zaalia had been escorted off the Bakshi estate; their exit attracting a flurry of activity as reporters took pictures.
T'Rani approached the turian duty officer by the main desk and flashed her badge at him. The officer fired off a salute as T'Rani questioned him about the two women recently arrested.
"Yes, we've been holding them on charges," the officer explained, pointing towards Valni and Zaalia handcuffed on a bench in the corner of the room. The fact they were still in their saris was generating no little interest from the other C-Sec officers in the room. The turian referred to his omni-tool. "They're accused of wanton destruction of property, being drunk and disorderly, and vandalism." The officer clicked his teeth together disapprovingly. "The owner of the estate may wish to press charges."
"Thank you, I will take it from here. They're to be remanded into my custody."
"Yes, ma'am," the officer replied and escorted her over to the waiting prisoners.
Zaalia was sat at one end of the bench with her head resting on her clenched fist while Valni was at the other end, her legs and arms crossed, waiting patiently. T'Rani could hear their muttered conversation as they approached.
"My mother is not going to be happy when she sees this on the news," Zaalia complained.
"You can explain it to her later," Valni replied.
"I'll be surprised if she ever talks to me again. Oh, Spirits! I was arrested at a wedding!"
"You were just doing your duty," Valni assured her. "She'll understand."
"That would work on my dad, but I'm not sure she will. Not after all the things that happened back on Earth…" she mumbled under her mandibles.
"Untie them," the voice of T'Rani interrupted. They looked up to see T'Rani and another C-Sec officer emerge from the crowd of onlookers. The officer unfastened their restraints and officially handed them over to T'Rani.
"You should be setting a better example," the officer admonished sternly.
Zaalia opened her mouth to retort but T'Rani spoke again.
"You two. My office. Now!" the asari ordered.
The pair shuffled through the inquisitive throng. They had almost made it out of the room when Zaalia was intercepted by a fellow turian officer.
"Excuse me? Before you go, can I ask you…? That dress…"
"Yeah?" Zaalia folded her arms. "What about it?"
The turian leaned in conspiratorially lowered her voice so the other turians wouldn't hear. "Where can I get one?"
T'Rani led Valni into her office and stood behind the desk. Zaalia entered a few moments later to take her place beside Valni.
"Nice of you to join us," T'Rani said to Zaalia before rounding on Valni. "So, is the whole concept of 'undercover' lost on you, Severan?"
"It seemed like the best course of action," Valni replied. "He wasn't buying our cover story."
"I suppose I should have expected honesty from a turian," T'Rani muttered.
"I made a call. We got the job done."
"True enough," T'Rani conceded. "Bakshi may have made you both as spies, but you completed your assignment and managed to protect both the Turian Councillor and Bakshi as the source. He'll still be under close observation but you've gone a long way to clearing his reputation. Few missions ever go exactly as planned. But you adapted to the situation and got a favourable result."
"All the same, this is the second time I've found myself escorted away by C-Sec," Valni pointed out.
"Troublemaker," Zaalia murmured under her breath.
"Yeah, do please try not to make a habit out of it, Severan."
"So, what's our next move?" Zaalia asked.
"Go change, rest up, and be back here at nineteen-hundred hours. There's something I want to show you."
The pair nodded and turned to leave when T'Rani spoke again.
"Severan. If you wouldn't mind hanging around? I have some news for you."
"I'll see you guys later," Zaalia said and exited the office. Valni turned to T'Rani.
"What have you got?"
T'Rani picked up a slim tablet from her desk.
"I know you've been making enquiries about your ex, Kenneth Donnelly…"
"Is everyone aware of my movements?" Valni asked petulantly.
"Short answer: yes! Call it a benefit of working for C-Sec. We all watch each other's backs. I've discovered some news that may interest you: Kenneth Donnelly was recently spotted on Zakera Ward."
"He's here? On the Citadel?" Valni exclaimed. "When was this?"
"Two days ago. He passed the scanners and his DNA profile was flagged up by our security. We monitored him making a call to his parents. He talked about his job and who he was working for."
"I already know that he's working with Cerberus."
"Correct. But what was more interesting was who he claimed his commanding officer was."
T'Rani handed over the tablet. Valni took it and glanced at the transcript of the conversation. Only a few seconds later her browplates shot up and she gaped at T'Rani in surprise.
"He's working with Commander Shepard!?"
T'Rani nodded. "Fighting to save colonies in the Terminus our sources have confirmed. Shepard was positively identified on the human colony of Horizon last week just after it was attacked. The Commander managed to save two-thirds of the colonists from being abducted. After we intercepted Donnelly's call we did some checking with the Citadel Transit Office. Shepard has a ship registered as the Normandy SR2. And among the engineering staff are Kenneth Donnelly and Gabriella Daniels."
"But I saw Shepard in the Wards two days ago… You mean to say you knew Kenneth was on the Citadel? Why didn't you tell me this before?" Valni exploded.
"I needed you focused, Severan," T'Rani replied curtly. "Informing you of Donnelly's whereabouts might have distracted you from the mission."
"You don't know me very well!" Valni snapped.
"I wasn't about to take the risk," T'Rani explained, her expression hard. "Now we know what ship Donnelly and Shepard are on we can track their movements. If the Normandy makes port at the Citadel again I will be informed immediately. And I can inform you."
"Can I be sure you will tell me?" Valni accused. "What else are you hiding?"
T'Rani drew herself up to her full height. "A great deal, you can be sure of that. I'm your supervisor, Severan. What I choose to tell you is entirely at my discretion, and I expect you to work with the information at your disposal. If you have a problem with that you are free to turn around and leave the team."
For a fleeting second, Valni actually found herself contemplating the idea. But, almost immediately, her training and ingrained duty to the Hierarchy took hold and she shook her head fiercely. "I'm not in the habit of giving up."
"Good to hear," T'Rani replied. "Spoken like a true officer of the Hierarchy."
"But I want you to be honest with me from now on."
T'Rani regarded Valni for a moment before giving a hesitant nod. "What I can tell you I will," she promised. "You have my word."
"Thank you. I'm gonna hold you to that."
"Go get some rest," T'Rani advised. "Come back here this evening. I have a surprise in store."
"A pleasant one this time I hope?" Valni asked guardedly.
T'Rani actually smiled. "Let me put it this way: It's something that should make our quarian teammate very happy."
T'Rani steered the skycar onto the landing pad of the Citadel docking bays. The doors popped open and they exited the craft, the asari escorting Valni and Zaalia, now dressed in their regulation Hierarchy uniforms, across the landing pad to Docking Bay 42.
Lia'Vael was already waiting for them, her back turned as she stared in admiration at the ship currently occupying the berth.
T'Rani pulled up next to the quarian and gestured at the ship. "Officer Severan. Sergeant Gerumis. May I present to you the latest addition to our team: the Threads of Fate."
In the berth lay an asari-made light corvette. Measuring only forty metres in length, the corvette was much smaller than a frigate and the outer hull was hewn in a dark-blue alloy segmented into sections and separated by thin lines of soft, orange navigation lights. The ship's bow was flat and opened in a wide, glowing maw that resembled the open mouth of some gigantic marine animal. There were no windows or portholes visible – asari ships were usually completely self-enclosed – and the elegant convex hull curved out at the centre before tapering down to the two powerful aft thrusters and a pair of sleek delta wings that sloped gently downwards. Most corvettes had a maximum crew of ten and were typically used for reconnaissance and the transportation of shock troops or equipment.
Their quarian engineer seemed barely able to contain her excitement as she finally managed to drag her gaze away from the ship.
"Isn't she wonderful?" Lia'Vael enthused. "The eezo drive configuration is like nothing I've seen. Before today, the newest ship I got to work on was the Ulnay: It's a seventy-year old batarian bulk cruiser that the Flotilla purchased twenty years ago and took almost a decade to retrofit. It's as ugly as sin! But this… This is just beautiful!"
Utterly entranced by the ship, the quarian turned from her crewmates and continued to gaze lovingly at the corvette.
"Do you think she likes it?" Zaalia asked wryly.
"I don't know… It's borderline. I may need more evidence," Valni replied. A few seconds later Lia'Vael started bouncing with glee and even emitted a few high-pitched squeaks. "Yeah, she definitely likes it!" Valni agreed.
"When you're done geeking out, Lia'Vael," T'Rani interrupted, "I need you to prep the ship for departure."
"We're going on a shakedown run?" the quarian asked. Valni could have sworn her eyes actually glowed brighter behind her faceplate.
"No, we're going on a reconnoitre mission," T'Rani replied. "We have the location of the Blood Pack base. It's time we paid them a visit."
Author's Note: Bit of a delay on this chapter. Work has been a wee bit stressful recently with some late nights and next-day deadlines. Plus, I've recently started playing Dragon Age: Inquisition. It's somewhat addictive… (cough).
As always, my sincere thanks to the fantastic Bayzee u/5845707/bayzee for allowing me to include their character, Zaalia Gerumis, in the story and for their excellent advice.