The following six months, Kasumi could think of very little but how to get Keijis graybox back. She found that occupying her mind with that one single target made her life much easier. She kept recalling that day in Donovan Hock's estate. The pain was as real today as it had been half a year ago and she willingly held on to it. It motivated her. She knew very well that Keijis graybox would contain all of their memories together. She would see him again. She would bury herself in their memories, let them take her pain away and die wrapped in their warmth. It was way beyond the promise she had made back then - it was a matter of how she was willing to die.

She knew Hock must be keeping the graybox hidden at his estate but she also knew there was no way for her to pull that heist off alone. The security was now much higher than it had ever been, not to mention all the heavily armored guards. She needed help. But who in their right mind would help her? She was just a thief with a 'not really valuable' target. For someone to help her, she would need leverage. And she had none.

She kept looking over any and all possibilities to get into the vault and out again. She could not find any solution. It wasn't like her, she always knew how to get in and out without being seen but it had almost always required a partner. Keiji had been her partner for so long, it felt like he was a part of her. How could she ever pull this off alone?

Being back on the Citadel, she sat up at her old favorite spot on the catwalk. She looked down at the people, reminiscing about the days when she was still under Thanes protection. Six and a half years had passed since she last seen him. She had heard rumors of him being on Illium for quite some time but she had no way of confirming that. He wasn't easy to track down, even if you did know what planet, or even station, he was on. If he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't be found.

With the thought of Thane heavy on her mind, she got tempted into booting up her old VI friend. She brought up her omni-tool and shortly after, VI Thane appeared. He stood towering above her, hands behind his back.

"It's been a long time, Kasumi"

She looked up at the VI. He had been the reason Thane left her, the reason his wife had been killed. And it was all her fault, all because she wanted to be as close to Thane as possible. VI Thane sat down next to her and looked down at the people. Kasumi choked at the VIs movements. It was so life like and reminded her of the real Thane so much that it might as well have been the real him sitting down next to her.

"It has" she finally said.

They sat like that in silence for a long time. The day slowly turned into evening.

"I would suggest we go and require something to eat" VI Thane said, breaking the silence.

Kasumi hadn't even thought about food. Was she really hungry? She hadn't eaten anything all day but she didn't feel hungry. She felt happy sitting right there in silence, just watching people, trying to think of a new plan to get the graybox back.

"I'm not hungry"

"I insist" VI Thane said and stood up.

Kasumi looked up at him and sighed. He was truly like the real Thane. She stood up and they made their way down to the streets.

Kasumis favorite fast food place was close to the docking bays. She sat there, watching the people boarding and arriving, ships being unloaded and ships taking off. She enjoyed feeling invisible in midst of so much people and took in the scenery. For a brief moment, she felt at peace. Maybe she had been hungry after all, her thoughts seemingly clearer after eating.

Suddenly, she caught sight of a drell. It wasn't Thane, she was sure of that. He was younger, about her age, very good looking. He looked confused, scouting the docking bay as if he was trying to find someone. He grabbed a small bag and started making his way through the crowd. He was a clumsy in his movements, kept bumping into people and getting angry and annoyed with them. No, it really wasn't Thane. Seeing a drell on the Citadel was still an uncommon sight, so naturally, she got very curious.

She started tailing him, tried to make heads or tails of who he might be. The drell walked passed security and started asking around for where one could rent an apartment. Kasumi risked getting a bit closer to hear him better. Maybe he would introduce himself properly to someone and she would catch wind. As time passed, he soon discovered his stalker and turned around to face her. His face expression spoke louder than any words could.

"What do you want?"

Kasumi wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly she felt as if in the presence of Thane, like a little kid with nowhere to hide. She had grown a lot since then, no one ever caught her red handed and here this young drell stared her down like she had a spotlight in her face.

"I.. I just.."

"Stop following me! Whatever you're selling, I'm not interested!"

The drell turned around and walked away with haste. Kasumi stood watching him for a while before she dared breath again. Who was this man? Maybe she had coded some kind of information into VI Thane about the Kahje population or maybe he could answer why a drell would go to the Citadel to begin with. She knew they rarely left their home planet and if they ever did, it was for a very good reason. As she brought up VI Thane, a flood of questions surfaced. What if this drell knew Thane? What if he knew where Thane was? Would she be able to see him again?

"Do you see that drell over there?" she asked.

"Yes" VI Thane answered.

"Do you know who he is?"

"I am certain you ask me this for a good reason. Seeing drell here is very uncommon, but no, I do now know who that is"

Kasumi got annoyed at herself. Why would VI Thane know anything about any other drell? She hadn't implemented any face recognition software and even if she had, when would she have met an other drell? She sighed and started walking in place. She couldn't let go of the idea that this drell might having some kind of connection to Thane.

"What... what is that..?"

The voice was weak, almost like a whisper. Kasumi turned around to see the drell standing right behind her. He stared at the VI with his large, black eyes, the bag had fallen to the ground but he had paid very little mind to it. He slowly walked up to the VI and let his hand pass through it.

"It.. it's a VI of a drell I use to know.."

"It looks.. it looks just like him.." the drell said, clearly in shock.

Kasumi suddenly realised who this drell was.

".. Kolyat?"