Chapter Ten: The Lady in White

We made it to Mars with everyone mostly intact. Thanks to Zaal's toys, I didn't even have to give my Centurion back. He put it under some kind of barrier that made it look, sound, and smell like a broken-down old escape pod. Since that's exactly the kind of junk people expect to find on a quarian ship, we made it through Alliance security without a hitch.

Zaal wanted me to stay behind while he went ashore to meet up with some turian mercenary captain. He shook his head

"You just stole a valuable prototype from the Alliance. I don't think it's a good idea for you to head back into one of their most heavily defended bases."

Cute that he actually thought it mattered.

"Aw, you afraid the big Alliance brass'll try and toss your new Spectre pal into a prison cell?"

"Can they do that?"

"Oh man, I'd just love to see them try."

I strapped my pistol to my leg and that was the end of that. Zaal didn't argue. Smart boy.

You'd never expect to find an old-timey English pub in the middle of the red Martian waste, but there is one. Just one. The owner's name is Bernard, but he'll lay you out if you call him anything but Bernie.

I don't know how in all the asari hells she pulled it off, but when we walked into Bernie's, Bilquis was there, having a drink with the big turian lady we'd come to see. I'm not even going to mention what Bilquis looked like (okay, she was smoking hot in her white sun dress). The turian deserves a mention though. Woman had hips to die for. You could tell, even under the orange-and-gray armor she had on.

Bernie makes everybody leave their ordnance at the door, and this turian didn't seem happy about it. She didn't do anything too obvious—sometimes new recruits will reach up and pat the spot where their rifles should be—but she leaned forward a little in her seat like she expected to be weighed down something. Not sure what she was worried about; with her military training she could probably gut any three of us with her bare hands anyway.

Zaal didn't seem like he realized anything was wrong. He doesn't have the same delightful history with Bilquis that I do. I was tempted to rip her a new asshole right then and there, but I didn't want to risk an all-out brawl. Bernie serves the best (only) dark beer on Mars, and there was no way I was going to let some washed up actress take that away from me.

Maybe Zaal didn't recognize her, but I sure as hell did.

"Hey Bilquis. What the fuck are you doing here?"

She looked over at me and tilted her martini glass my way. "This is the Spectre I was telling you about, Azil. Bit of a temper, don't you think?"

The turian took a sip of the green shit she was drinking before she bothered to look at me. "So it seems. Hello, Spectre. It's truly an honor to meet the famous Kat Taptrin. Has anyone ever told you you're far more attractive in person than you seem in the vids?"

Sigh. Why do turians always have to think they're hilarious? I was going to give that one a close-up of my fist, but Zaal stopped me.

"Commander—" that was the turian's rank, I guess, "do you know who that woman is?"

He pointed one of his three fingers at Bilquis. Some of the patrons at the bar counter turned around in their seats so they could see what a stray quarian thought was so important.

"Sure. Who hasn't heard of Matron Bilquis? Greatest actress since Zorania, if you ask me. Even played the voice of our Spectre here, in that animated feature they made for the kids."

"Don't remind me."

Azil smiled. It's creepy when turians smile. All mandibles and beady black eyes. "Why not? She did some amazing work. Got your voice just right."

"Before this turns into some kind of melee, I think there's something you should know, Commander."

There Zaal went again, sticking his hand into the varen's mouth. I really wanted to carve out a piece of turian hide for a souvenir, but I couldn't do it with Zaal hovering between me and Azil.

"Oh?" Turians don't have eyebrows to raise, so you have to watch for their mandibles to twitch. Azil's were swinging open and shut like a rusty gate in a hurricane. She was definitely laughing at us. "What's that?"

"Did Bilquis tell you she's been moonlighting as a terrorist? She's with Nerat."

Azil set down her glass and got to her feet. Damned if she wasn't almost as big as Sol, too. "Is that true Bilquis?"

Bilquis drained her drink, cool as a blue cucumber, and tugged a crease out of her dress. "It might be."

"Then it might be my fee just went up. Better make me a new offer."

"The number I quoted you is all I'm prepared to pay."

"That's too bad." Azil glanced over at Zaal. "Looks like the Talons will be sticking with you, Captain. You'd better be good for it."

She scanned the room then. Probably saw the same thing I did: asari agents closing in from every direction. Zaal put his back up against mine and flexed his fingers like he was regretting leaving his Kurchali at the door.

"I've never reneged on a deal before, Commander. I don't want to start now."

If you asked me who threw the first warp field, I'd have to tell you I don't have a damn clue. That's one of the problems with problems with Bernie's "take all their weapons away" strategy. Can't exactly ask a biotic to rip out his implant and stuff it in the coat room.

I heard Bernie shouting for us all to take it outside and then there were biotics flying everywhere. Bilquis had about fifteen of her cronies packed into the bar (asari wearing holosuits, probably—we never bothered to check).

Zaal, the turian, and I weren't on our own though. A big blond guy behind the bar took out an asari with a shotgun spread to the back before one of her buddies tossed him up into the rafters with a lift grenade. How the hell did she sneak that past Bernie and his bouncers? No idea.

Zaal had his own fun little tricks though. He waited until both of us were crouched behind an overturned table. Then he switched on the best stealth screen I've ever seen. Just vanished like he'd never even been there. I could feel his knee digging into my calf, and I still wasn't completely sure he was where I thought he was. He waited for a lull in the biotics display and booked it. A few seconds later, I saw an asari go down with an omniblade through her neck. Zaal's a vicious creature when he feels like it.

Azil didn't even bother ducking. She had some kind of crazy tech shield up that just deflected everything the asari threw at her. She wasn't doing much damage with her own biotics, but she was keeping most of Bilquis' people focused on her. That left The Bitch Herself to me. Just the way I wanted it.

I blew one of Azil's warps to bust out an opening. Neither of us was very strong in the biotics department, but you can get a pretty hefty payload when you crash one field into another. I think I might have gotten one of those biotic grenades too, because asari just went flying in every direction. Poor Bernie. He had a hell of a time cleaning the blood off the floors.

Inconsiderate cow that she was, Bilquis was running away and leaving her "comrades" to do the dirty work. Okay, so maybe I wouldn't want to fight wearing a Marilyn Monroe knockoff, but I'm not the one who brought pumps to the beat down party.

I ran out of Bernie's just in time to see the hem of Bilquis' dress flap around a bend in the hallway. There were a few gawkers peeking into the bar and getting in my way, so I lost more time eeling through the crowd. Lucky for me, it's not too tough to track a hot asari through a base full of sexually repressed Alliance soldiers. I just followed the trail of drooling corporals, and they led me right to her.

When I caught up, Bilquis was trying her charms on some mercenary that was guarding the walkway out to the civilian docks. She had her tits all pushed up and perky, but the merc didn't seem too distracted. He held his rifle like he'd just love an excuse to use it, and his most likely target was probably the stupid actress trying to flirt her way past him.

"Come on, calto," Bilquis purred, "the screening for my new movie is in a couple of hours. You wouldn't want me to be late, would you?"

"You some kind of actress?"

Damn that merc was cold! Bilquis was putting on her A-game, but she was getting nowhere. I flicked on my stealth generator and snuck out from my hiding place around the corner. Maybe my tech isn't as fancy as Zaal's, but it does the job. I was getting ready to armlock Bilquis from behind when the merc suddenly looked right at me. His hand shot out before I could react, and the next thing I knew I was face-to-face with him. A split-second later I felt restraints snap shut around my wrists and my camouflage melted. I tried to hack the cuffs, but the merc didn't give me a chance. I managed to catch a glimpse of Bilquis sticking her tongue out at me just before the merc punched me hard in the gut. Guy had quite an arm—I went down like an Ilian hooker—fast and breathless.

He didn't knock me out though, so I heard what he was saying while I was rolling around and gasping on the pavement.

"Commander. We've got two intruders at the east hangar entrance. I've neutralized one, but it looks like the other got away."

Short pause while he listened to his CO's response.

"She's human, Alliance colors. The escapee is an asari wearing a white dress and claiming to be an actress. Want me to pursue?"

Another pause, longer this time. I was starting to get some of my wind back, so I tapped into the station's wireless and started working on the cuffs again.

"Understood. Sorry Commander. I didn't realize she was with us."

I wasn't getting anywhere with my hack, so I was pretty relieved when the merc bent down and undid the restraints himself. First thing I did was punch him in his stupid face.

"Idiot!"

Gotta hand it to the guy, he stood there and took it. Didn't even flinch, like he'd been expecting the hit. He rubbed his jaw and grinned at me. "Been called a lot worse. You might want to try not creeping up on your allies next time, Spectre."

He offered a hand and I let him help me up. "You weren't supposed to know I was there. How did you see me, anyway?"

He tapped one of the lenses on the goggles he was wearing. Big clunky piece of gear, but I guess mercs use whatever they can get.

"You're one of Azil's people."

His rifle went into its holster before he answered. "That's right. I'm her XO. Cody Miller. Pleasure to meet you."

He stuck his hand out again like he wanted me to shake it, but I was too pissed at him for letting Bilquis get away.

"If you were Alliance, I'd have you court-martialed for interfering with Council business."

"Guess it's a good thing I work for the old lizard then."

"Don't push your luck, buddy."

I rubbed my wrists for a few seconds to get rid of the tingly feeling the cuffs had left behind. Then I opened up a channel to Zaal. "You still alive?"

"Mostly. Commander Toria took a few shots in the chest, but her armor absorbed the worst of it. Did you catch that asari?"

"She got away."

"That's too bad. At least we've still got Darza though. She's hiding something, and I think it has to do with the way the Citadel disappeared."

"So they made off with it while everyone else was watching the Reapers retreat."

Miller cocked his head in my direction when he heard that. Well, he could listen in if he wanted to. His career as a merc was over anyway.

"Sounds pretty ridiculous now that I hear it out loud. Nerat's definitely up to something though. It's got to be related to Commander Shepard's death somehow. Why else would they come after us?

"Because they want what we want."

"Shepard's remains? But why? Why would they care?"

I glared at Miller, who had scooted a bit closer while Zaal and I chatted. "Let's talk about it when we get back to the ship, all right? Numbnuts here is getting a little too interested."

"Numb—oh. You mean the mercenary who captured you."

"Watch it!"

"Right. Well, the two of you should come meet Commander Toria and me at the infirmary."

"Here's hoping she strings him up by his toenails."

I didn't bother to update Miller. The infirmary was on the other side of the base from where we were, so I started walking pretty fast. Miller fell in behind me and sauntered along just like he hadn't done anything wrong.

My Spectre ID got us through all of the security checkpoints in a flash, so we actually got to the infirmary first. I plopped down on one of the uncomfortable benches in the lobby and stretched out my legs so there was no way Miller could sit his dumb ass down next to me. He didn't seem to mind. Just stood close by with his arms folded across his chestplate. The clerk at the front desk gave him a funny look, but he didn't even take off his goggles.

It felt like an hour went by before Zaal came in with a squad of Alliance medics. They had the turian strapped to a stretcher, and by the careful way they carried it, Toria probably had some internal injuries Zaal didn't mention. Miller went to talk to the medics while I swung my legs around to make room for Zaal on my bench. He sat down and put his head in his hands.

"This is bad. I was counting on Commander Toria's help. We can't do this with just the five of us."

"Six, if you count Darza."

"Five, six, sixty—it doesn't matter how many. You're the only one of us who has any real combat experience."

I slung an arm over his shoulder and gave him a friendly shake. "Don't sell yourself short, Captain. You've all held out pretty well so far."

"Against small groups of amateur terrorists, sure. Darza almost killed Quelb back on Thessia. What if we run into a slaver ship, or one of those salarian drug cartels?"

"Salarians in Alliance space? Not if they want to keep their slimy hides intact. Look, if you're really worried about it, I can bring the Alliance in on this. Soon as we tell them we've got a lead on Commander Shepard, they'll have every ship in the fleet out on patrol."

"That wouldn't work. They already tried canvassing the Sol system, remember? If the Alliance flies out in force, they'll just scatter any clues around until there's nothing to find anymore. No, we can't involve them."

"So what do you want to do? Even I kinda feel like we're in over our heads here."

"I might be able to help you with that."

Miller finally took off his goggles. The medics hurried off with Toria, so that just left Zaal, me, and Idiot Boy. Well, there was the clerk too. She looked like she wished we'd get the hell out of her lobby.

Miller was a good-looking guy, if you don't mind helmet hair. Or gingers. Big scar across his left eyebrow that didn't look like it came from a gunshot wound. His neck was a little thick for my taste.

"Commander says I'm supposed to take the contract myself, if you want me. She was going to go, but she'll be in the operating room for at least a few hours."

Zaal squirmed a little while he was trying to make a decision. "Maybe we should stay here while she recovers."

"Fine by me." Miller shrugged. The missile launcher he had strapped to his back clunked against his shoulder armor. "We figured you might want to get out of here in a hurry, what with all those psycho asari on your tail."

"I appreciate the offer, Mr. Miller, but I don't think one mercenary is going to be enough firepower for what we're headed into."

Miller scratched at a bit of orange scruff he had on his chin. "I could bring in a few rookies, but the pickings are pretty slim. Don't mind telling you, but we lost a lot of good people in that fracas over in batarian space. I'd offer you the whole unit, but truth is I'm all we can spare at the moment. Somebody's gotta stay home and train the new recruits."

"So go crawl back into whatever shithole you came out of."

I thought it was a reasonable suggestion. Zaal and the merc disagreed.

"All right." Zaal got up and shook Miller's hand. "I don't want to turn around and fly home without finding what we came here for. You're hired. You'd better give me a discount though. I was paying for Commander Toria."

Miller ran a hand along the barrel of his rifle like it was his girlfriend's ass. "I can keep up with the commander. Don't have her tricked-out armor, but I'm a better shot in a pinch."

"And so modest, too!"

Zaal was glaring at me through his mask. Don't ask me how I knew. I just did. "Do you have a problem with Mr. Miller joining us?"

"Damn right I do! I almost had Bilquis when he grabbed me!"

"From what Commander Toria told me, you approached the checkpoint under cloak. How was Miller supposed to know you weren't there to take him out? You could have been Bilquis' accomplice, or a rival mercenary."

I almost screamed at him. I really wanted to. Would've been satisfying. I remembered who I was just in time. Spectres don't screech. We bide our time and do what's necessary when the chance comes. I shut it all down. My crush on Zaal, the rush from chasing Bilquis, even the frustration of losing her.

"Your ship, your rules, Captain. I'll go along with whatever you decide."

He probably didn't believe me, but I didn't need to convince him. All I had to do was keep him from kicking me off his ship.

Besides, I could always drop a laxative in Miller's coffee or something later.

Zaal had everyone gather up in the lounge when we finally got back to the ship. Tana still had her wing bandaged up, but she came anyway, and either Sol scowled all the time or he wasn't too happy about being left out of the bar fight. Darza was sitting on a couch in the center of the room. She had a mug of tea clutched in both hands, and she wasn't wearing her stupid black coat anymore. Quelb must have forgiven her for destroying his old body, because he was standing behind her with one hand clenched around the edge of the couch near her shoulder. Looming there like that, he looked like every new boyfriend's worst nightmare.

"I think it's time you told us why Nerat is after us."

Zaal sounded like he was trying to stay calm. He was pretty angry though. You could tell by the stiff way each word came creaking out of his mouth. His accent got a little thicker, too. Darza flinched back like he'd hit her.

"I know. I just—I don't know where to start. I'm so confused."

Sol planted his huge ass next to Zaal and bent down to get a better look at the little asari. "Don't screw with us. You didn't look confused when you were trying to gun Quelb down back on Thessia. Tell Zaal what he wants to know, or I'll twist you into a blue pretzel."

"Solus." Quelb made the name sound like a warning. "Threatening her will only serve to further obfuscate the truth. Until you have something of merit to contribute, I suggest that you remain silent."

Sol's eyes flared blue in that scary way powerful biotics sometimes do when they're really, really angry. He was probably going to do something drastic, but he stopped when the flanged white markings on Darza's forehead flickered in response. I could almost swear I felt my own amp twitching too.

That biotic tantrum seemed to give the girl some confidence somehow. She uncurled her hands from her drink and set it on the table in front of her.

"I guess I'll start at the beginning. I'm Darza T'Kuril. I used to be a student at the Caldaris School of Astrophysics. That's how I knew Matriarch Talmana. She's been on sabbatical for about a decade. No one's sure when she'll be back, but I didn't think it would be anytime soon."

"And that left you plenty of time to set up a trap for Quelb," Zaal pointed out.

"That's right. I didn't like doing it. Quelb is the closest thing to a real friend that I've had in years."

Tana clacked her beak and hissed a little bit. "Do you make a habit of frying your friends' circuitry?"

"Of course not! I didn't have much of a choice though. When the Lady gives you a command, you carry it out, or die trying."

"Sounds like this Nerat group is some kinda cult."

That was Miller. Informed as always.

"You wouldn't be wrong to call it that," Quelb admitted. "The members believe they are participating in a sort of religion. They think of this "Lady" as an avatar of their Goddess, sent to shape the galaxy in Her image."

"Thought the asari got over that kind of thing millennia ago," Sol muttered.

"I wish." Darza tugged at a loose thread in the couch cushion. "Goddess, I can't believe I let myself be taken in by their dogma. I really thought I was doing the right thing, running around killing people."

I took a really long, hard look at the girl. She was so tiny, even shorter than I was. She didn't look like a plasma-cannon-toting, geth-slaying berserker. She didn't act like one either.

"I think they drugged you."

Quelb's eyebrows twitched. He looked down and met Darza's eyes. "That is possible. In my haste to nullify the immediate threat, I neglected to run any medical scans on you. Young asari can be highly suggestible. It would not have been difficult for a Nerat operative to administer a mind-altering toxin during an interest rally."

"Then I'm not some crazy psychopath?"

Darza sounded so relieved it was almost cute. "Probably not. You had to be a little nuts to join Nerat in the first place, but you seem normal enough to me."

Quelb let go of the couch and offered his hand to Darza. "Nevertheless, I would like to be certain. If you will excuse us, Captain, I will escort Darza to the med bay and arrange the appropriate tests."

"Wait a second." Zaal put up his hand to stop them. Darza froze halfway through getting out of her seat.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"You never answered me. What is Nerat after? Why did they send you to interfere with our mission? Why did they target Quelb?"

"I—I don't know. I'm sorry!"

"You're wasting your time, Zaal. She really doesn't know anything."

I thought I was ready for anything. Spectre training is supposed to prepare you for every possible scenario. They never said anything about Commander Shepard's old girlfriend hacking into your brain.

Nothing really changed. The ship was still there. Everyone on Zaal's crew was still there. We just had an extra person in the room all of the sudden. Liara T'soni was standing next to Darza with her hands clasped in front of her.

"I think it's time you all learned why you're here."

Codex

calto: An asari term of endearment. It is one of the few gendered words in asari parlance, usually referring specifically to a male romantic partner.

Cody Miller: The executive officer of a mercenary band known as Toria's Talons, Miller keeps a low profile. A crack shot with a wide variety of ranged weapons, he is also a deadly hand-to-hand combatant. Rumor-mongers even claim that he has killed multiple turian soldiers in the ring. Since he has declined to comment, the accuracy of these statements remains in doubt.

Azil Toria: A master tactician, Commander Toria always has one more trick hidden up her sleeve. Her unpredictable style and bombastic personality have served her well in her years since leaving the meritocracy. Having lost many of her people in violence following the Harsa Exodus, Toria is currently working to restore her company to fighting form.

Review Response:

shadowmythic: I appreciate your enthusiasm! I don't have any current plans to include a Reaper character in this story though. Quelb was originally going to be the "real" human Reaper (I had planned on the larva from ME2 being a decoy). When I decided that he was going to be Zaal's mentor/uncle, it just made more sense for him to be a former geth.