AN: So the last chapter was the first example of this story diverging from the main canon of the game. This is going to happen from time to time. To keep things interesting of course. :)

The last example was because, even when I was playing with the game, that Udina -who has every trait of being a pure political animal- would surely know that any accusation of Saren was going to be shot down on their evidence. Of course, that means that everything else happening is divergent from the game. Hopefully if lives up to the original.

In other news, I am going to try and update this story a bit more regularly, rather than the random schedule there is now. I was thinking it would be updated once or twice a week, depending on what people think.

Anyways, with all that out of the way, let the story continue!

There was something about the Financial District that Shepard found distinctly uncomfortable.

As she stepped from the taxi and glanced around at the polished white buildings, she struggled to place just what it was. Certainly from a physical standpoint, it looked no different to the rest of the Presidium; same decadent decoration, same spotless exteriors and same cocktail of species moving to and fro. In spite of this veneer of uniformity though, Shepard could sense something...wrong emanating from within. Maybe it was because she was about to make contact with the Shadow Broker. Maybe it was just an adverse reaction to the artificially insular lives of the bankers who surrounded her, so alien to the humble farmer's daughter from Mindoir. Whatever it was, as soon as Shepard set foot in the district, she felt her muscles tense, glancing over her shoulder. She felt like she was being watched.

"So, where do we start looking?" Kaidan asked as he stepped out of the taxi behind her, following closely by Ashley. Despite Ambassador Udina's protests, Anderson had insisted that both the Sentinel and the soldier accompany Shepard on her trip, with neither of them taking no for an answer either. Shepard had been slightly sceptical that she would need their help to talk to a volus banker but, now that she was here, she was grateful for at least two friendly faces.

"According to Anderson he works for a company called Citadel Investments. It should be fairly easy to find." Shepard exhaled, running a hand through her hair as she checked a nearby sign post. All thoughts of how they were supposed to track him down dissolved in an instant as she read the various locations advertised;

Serrice Council Presidium Office

White Star Insurance Main Office

Citadel Security Station

Citadel Investments

"Huh," Ashley read over the Commander's shoulder, "that's very convenient."

"Exceptionally." Shepard pursed her lips. She hated this place already. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

The trio caused quite a stir as they walked through the district, to the point that Shepard checked herself and her companions to make sure that none of them were walking with their weapons out or brandishing offensive slogans. Was the district really so quiet that three Alliance marines caused the same sort of stir she might have expected for an armed robbery? She could see eyes of all species following her, conversations dragging on and petering out as their participants' attention was caught as she moved by. It felt like a spotlight had been set specifically on her and an audience was waiting for a performance. She felt her head shrink down into her shoulders as she walked while Kaidan and Ashley subconsciously closed the gap until they were virtually rubbing shoulders.

"I get the impression we're not welcome." Kaidan murmured across into Shepard's ear. She nodded in reply,

"What was Joker saying about stabbing people again?"

Kaidan snorted, "Yeah, well, just keep an eye out I reckon. At least until we get to Barla Von's place."

"Then keep an even closer eye out." Shepard added.

After just a few minutes, they arrived at a quite large building labelled 'Citadel Investments! Spend today, profit tomorrow!'. Slipping inside revelled an expansive reception area, dominated by a large water feature in the centre of a volus holding up a collection of papers. There were bustling crowds not unlike the embassy, but a much greater mixture. There were volus, turian, hanar, asari, salarians and even humans standing impatiently in line or at one of a hundred tables, nodding open mouthed as a volus gestured to them.

As soon as they had entered through the door, they were accosted by a pretty woman in a business suit carrying a clipboard,

"Welcome to Citadel Investments. If you would come with me please, Mister Von is expecting you." She turned on her heel as crisply as any soldier and marched away, not even bothering to check if the three humans were actually following her or not. With a bemused look at her comrades, Shepard did indeed give chase, following her as they took an elevator up at least a half dozen floors before being ejected into a long, sterilised white corridor with doors dotted down its entire length.

"Mister Von is in room 233f," the woman said in the same clipped voice as before, "have a pleasant day." The door slammed shut before Shepard could even open her mouth.

A few doors down, they found room 233f, which opened as soon as they approached it. The office within was bright and airy in spite of lacking windows, dominated by a large desk in the centre with a terminal to one side. As with the Ambassador's office, the walls were dominated by books -mostly economy-related volumes Shepard noted- with a few colourful paintings to add to the atmosphere.

The being sitting behind the desk was a small and rotund being, barely up to Shepard's navel. He was wearing a brown suit that concealed the entirely of his features, with a white stripe running from the circular mouthpiece over the skull and down the back. In place of where the eyes should have been there were just a pair of small dotted lights that switched off and on as if blinking. He looked up as Shepard entered,

"Ah, Commander Shepard. I have been expecting you." his voice had a synthetic edge to it, as if he was speaking through a radio, with a hissing breath punctuating each sentence.

"So I see," Shepard glanced around suspiciously, "you have me at a disadvantage."

"Forgive me," Barla Von settled back into his chair, feet dangling well above the ground like a child, "Barla Von, Chief Capital Officer, Citadel Investments. Would you, Chief Williams and Lieutenant Alenko like to take a seat?" another breath.

"Thanks, but no thanks." Shepard crossed her arms. She did not feel threatened by the volus, but that did not mean he was not dangerous, "How do you know who I am?"

"It is my job, Commander Shepard. The Hero of Elysium, the recent savour of Eden Prime, here on the Citadel? Even if it were not in my remit Shepard, I could not have failed to notice your presence." A hiss.

Shepard was rather alarmed that this polite, if dour volus knew who she was. He sat there, swinging his legs absent-mindedly but she could tell that he knew a lot more than he was letting on; about her and about the situation as a whole. She did not like this one bit. She just wanted her information and to get out, before the shadows that swirled and formed in her mind threatened to engulf her.

"I was told to come to you for information."

"Yes you were." A slight nod, "and it is true that while my official job here is to advise and invest discreetly on behalf of clients, my true occupation is to gather information. It's a small side business but a highly lucrative one and, most importantly, safe. I don't deal well with danger Commander, I shall leave that to you."

"Thanks," Shepard replied dryly, a hint of frustration also creeping in, "do you have information on Saren?"

"Myself? No," The volus answered immediately with another hiss, the lights in his suit blinking rapidly, "unfortunately, Spectre Saren is a good customer of my employer. Unless you can come up with the necessary funds to purchase the information Commander, I will not be furnished with it."

"How much are we talking?" Shepard felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"A lot, Commander Shepard. Much more than your Ambassador will be willing to part with." Barla Von's neutral, almost robotic tone did not change but Shepard could almost hear a note of sympathy. "I am sorry that you have wasted your time here but before you go, I have just one piece of advice. I would watch my back if I were you, Commander. There are a lot of people on the Citadel who want you to fail."

"What a waste of time." Ashley sighed aloud as they stepped back out into the financial district.

"He did say it was a business," Kaidan reminded her, "its a poor business model if he doesn't charge for his work."

"I know," Ashley pursed her lips, "but it's so frustrating! He has access to the information we need!"

"Yeah, we just need to bankrupt the Alliance to get it. Fair trade right?" Shepard cut in bitterly. She privately agreed with Ashley; having the evidence they needed so close but inaccessible was torture.

"I don't suppose we can get it any other way?" Ashley sounded hopeful.

"You heard Von, he said he didn't have the information himself. Its probably a precaution to stop people roughing him up to get it. We supply the cash, he gives it to the Shadow Broker and we get our intelligence." the Lieutenant frowned.

"Kaidan's right." Shepard sighed, "the direct approach isn't going to get us anywhere. We just need to play the game, like everyone else."

"That damned volus. What the hell was that bit at the end all about?" the Chief rubbed the back of her neck.

A pause.

"He was warning me." Shepard was chewing her bottom lip, causing both Kaidan and Ashley to glance at her, "'watch your back'. He means we're being watched." Kaidan's eyes flicked from side to side while Ashley could not help but look around, as if she was lost. Shepard herself resisted the urge to do the same. She could feel so many pairs of eyes on her, watching her, judging her, that it was hard to tell which ones were malevolent and which ones were simply curious. She needed to get out of the Financial District, which she had decided was the least friendly place she had ever been.

"Well now I feel really unwelcome." Kaidan murmured softly, as if there was someone listening.

"Tell me about it." Shepard shook her head, "Come on. Let's get in contact with the Captain. Maybe he has some other lead we can follow up on."