Kolyat kept staring into the half empty cup, his thoughts in the distance. Kasumi fetched the kettle and filled his cup with some more tea. Kolyat hardly noticed, just kept staring. He had been on the Citadel for little more than two months now. They never really talked about Thane or Kolyats life on Kahje. It was topics best avoided, Kasumi thought but she knew something was bothering him and that it must have something to do with Thane. He often fell into silence and today was clearly no exception. After a while, he had built up enough courage to break the silence.

"So.. you knew my father, right?"

She wasn't quite sure how to answer that question. Did she really? It had been such a long time and on top of that, she couldn't escape the fact that it was her fault Kolyats mother had been killed or at least it was her fault that the slavers found out she existed in the first place. She wasn't sure how to tell him any of that and so far, she hadn't. It had been difficult enough to admit it to Thane. His reaction had been somewhat calm, if uncharacteristic. He never said much, he just disappeared. Kolyat was hotheaded, emotional. She wasn't even sure Kolyat knew of his fathers path in life. How would he react to the knowledge that his mother was killed because they wanted to get back at Thane?

"I use to know him.. I haven't seen him in over six years now, though"

Kolyat gave her a nod and took a sip of the tea. He looked worried, deep in thoughts again.

"Feel like you can finally tell me why you came here? I mean, it's been two months and you still haven't told me.." Kasumi was hoping to find out more about why he left Kahje in the first place. Maybe he was looking for Thane as well and maybe he knew more about where he could possibly be or how to get in touch with him.

"I use to live with my aunt but.." he began, weighing his next words. "I received a letter eight months ago.. from one of the banks here on the Citadel. It said.. they said that my father had a package there for me but that it wouldn't be mine until after he had died. They apparently contacted me because they lost contact with my father"

Kasumis stomach clenched. What if Thane was dead? She had always thought they would meet again, that she had all the time in the world. What if she didn't? Kolyat continued.

"Since rumors are flying around of his passing, they figured that I might know something about it and asked me to confirm it. I guess they figured that if he had died, we would hold a funeral or something.. but I have no documents confirming his death, so they refused to release the package to me" He paused, looking into his cup again. "Where would I get a document like that anyway? I mean, I don't know if he is.. dead.. I haven't seen him since.." He paused again, looking up at Kasumi. ".. not for.. for about seven years, actually.."

Kasumi knew what had happened to Thane around that time. She knew what he had been doing and why it had been so important to him but she always figured he would return to his son as soon as he had finished his journey of revenge. Now it turns out that Kolyat didn't even know if his father was alive or not. Last time he'd seen him must have been at his mothers funeral.

"So.. do you know what's in the package?" she finally dared asking.

"I'm not sure. I was hoping it may contain some kind of clue as to where he's been all this time. If he's alive or not. Maybe it'll explain why he left.."

Kolyat looked back down into his cup, biting his lips. Kasumi knew he was reliving a memory and she was not about to ask him to share it. She figured she could have told him much more about Thane and what she knew about his disappearance but at the same time, she knew it wasn't a good time to do so. Maybe whatever was in the account could ease her into that conversation or even simply give some straight answers without her involvement.

"And there's no way for them to just give it to you, I assume..?" she dared ask.

"No.."

"What if.. what if I were to help you get 'access'?"

Kolyat looked up at her, confusion slowly painting his face. He wasn't quite sure what she meant, Kasumi just smiled at him and stood up.

"I take that as a yes! Tell me. Which bank are we talking about?"

Before Kolyat had time to answer, she brought up VI Thane.

"We're gonna need blueprints, VI"

It was already dark outside when Kasumi made her way to the bank. The vault containing the package that Thane had left for Kolyat was in a high secure section of the bank but breaking in was child's play to Kasumi. Disabling the alarms, letting cameras loop the same 30 seconds over and over and picking the locks was second nature to her and soon she had the safe open. Inside she found some credits, a datapad and a small package. It looked old, the wrapping paper faded. She took it all and made her way back to Kolyats apartment.

"You got it?"

"You sound just like a guy I knew when I was a kid" Kasumi mused.

Kolyat could hardly hide his excitement. When Kasumi had suggested she'd break into a bank, he couldn't believe what he was hearing at first. It took him a few days to accept her offer. He had worked for six month to be able to afford a ticket to the Citadel. He figured that the bank might be easier to convince if he talked to them face to face but to no avail. Without proof of Thanes passing, he wasn't going to get access so it didn't take him too long to realise that the only way he would get to it would be through Kasumi. She was more than happy to help. She admitted she also wanted to know what was in the safe and if it would reveal anything about Thanes whereabouts. Or of his suggested passing. She handed him the credits and the pad. He booted it up right away and started reading. As time passed, his curiosity was slowly replaced by anger.

"What does it say?"

Kolyat didn't answer, just focused on his breathing, staring at the pad. He finally threw it on the floor and stormed out of the room. Kasumi was confused. Whether or not Thane had told him about his life, she didn't see a reason for this strong reaction. Curiosity got the best of her and she picked up the pad.

"Dear Kolyat,

There are no words for how sorry I am. I know I haven't been there for you. When you were born, I knew you were a gift from Arashu but I did not know how to be a father. Believe me when I say that I tried, though as of late, I have realised that I should have tried harder. When your mother was killed, I knew that leaving you with your aunt was the best thing for you. I need you to understand that. I wish I would have told you more about my life, why I couldn't stay and why you couldn't come along. I pray that you will understand and forgive me one day. I could not live any other life, no matter how much I tried, please try forgive me and try to understand.

Know that I love you, always. I'm sorry for everything. That I haven't been there for you, that I haven't been honest. Most of all I am sorry that I could not find the courage to face you before my passing.

I love you,

Thane"

Kasumi let the pad fall down to the floor again. She knew Kolyat well enough to know how hotheaded he was, how irrational his reactions could be. Not letting him know why Thane left him, just leaving him with those parting words and some credits, she knew that would frustrate and anger Kolyat. She feared the worst and went out to try and find him.

After hours of looking she still couldn't find him. She put her hand in her pocket and squeezed the package she had taken from the bank. She had forgotten to give it to Kolyat.

Her omnitool chimed. A message from Cerberus again. She'd been getting these messages for quite some time and kept ignoring them every time. She had no intention of falling in line behind this 'Shepard' character. She was nothing more than a hyped profile for the media to exploit, she thought to herself, erasing the message.

She made her way to the shuttle bays and found Kolyat standing in line to the shuttles.

"Kolyat!" she shouted. "What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving! That message was the whole reason I came here? I deserved more than that! I deserved an explanation, not fancy words! I don't care if he's alive or not.. that's all he left me with.. I'm going home."

Kasumi saw him fighting the tears.

"It's not fair.. I deserved more than that.."

"Kolyat.." she grabbed him by the arm as tears started making their way to the surface. "Come. I will tell you, okay? I will tell you all I know about your father."