Angel

Chapter 14

Bioware owns the rights to all characters.

Shepard woke up more comfortable than normal. Her shoulder was healing nicely. Just then she noticed she wasn't alone in bed. Who is in bed with me? She turned over slowly to see Miranda. She was elated. She snuggled into Miranda and drifted back to sleep.

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Shepard woke to see that Miranda had left. I'm going to have to talk to that woman about getting up at a reasonable time. She pulled herself out of bed and flexed her shoulder. It was feeling better. She would have to visit Tali this morning. She felt guilty for heading straight to bed after the Sidonus ordeal.

"Thane would like to see you, Commander." EDI informed her as soon as she was showered and dressed.

"Thanks, EDI." Shepard headed to the elevator. She wondered if Thane wanted to explore their previous discussion about helping friends in ways that were morally circumspect.

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"You wanted to see me?" Shepard asked as she approached Thane in the life support center. Thane's weapons were lined up next to her on the wall.

"Yes. Now that you are here, though... It seems more difficult to talk about." Thane admitted while not meeting her eyes.

"I've got time. Take it at your own pace."

"Thank you. I fear I've already done that for too long." Thane got up and walked over to his weapon stash. "I had a family once. I still have a son. His name is Kolyat. I haven't seen him in a very long time."

"Did something happen to them?" Shepard asked.

"I abandoned them. Oh, not all at once. Nothing dramatic. No sneaking out in the middle if the night. No final argument or slammed door. I just... Did my job. I hunted and killed across the galaxy. 'Away on business,' my wife would tell people. I was always away on business."

"How long has it been since you talked?"

"Ten years. He showed me some of his schoolwork and asked if we could dance crazy. We did that when he was younger."

"What sort of dance is that?"

"It's ..." Thane switched into memory mode, as Shepard had begun to call it. "I check my extranet contacts. I expect an update on my next target. The console plays music. Old. Unfashionable. Kolyat jumps into the room. 'Hi, father.' Runs around in circles. I scoop him up. Toss him into the air. He shrieks, laughs. 'Spin me.' The console beeps. I put him down. Click the message. 'Father'. He pleads. Tugs my sleeve. 'I need to read this.' I say. I don't look at him."

"You never mentioned this before. Why now?"

"When my wife departed from her body, I...attended to that issue. I left Kolyat in the care of his aunts and uncles. I have not seen him or talked to him since."

"That's not the choice I expected. Why didn't you raise him yourself?" Shepard asked.

"My body is blessed with the skills to take life. The hanar honed them in me. I have few others. I didn't want that life for Kolyat. I hoped he would find his own way. If he hated me, so be it. He would not have shared the path of sin. I used my contacts to trace Kolyat. He has become...disconnected. He does what his body wills."

"What's wrong with him? Is he hurt?" Shepard asked.

"Something happened that should not have. He knows where I've been. Knows what I've done. I don't know his reasons, but he has come to the Citadel. He has taken a job as a hit man. I would like your help to stop him. He is... This is not a path he should take."

"You don't hire a raw rookie for a contract killing." Unless you're an idiot.

"I'm afraid someone may have seen we share a name, and assumed we share skills. I don't know why he would accept the task."

"To be closer to you, maybe?" Shepard knew what it was like to grow up without parents, and the emptiness that could consume you.

Thane looked down. "That thought haunts me more than any other."

"Let me check on Tali, then we'll head right over."

"Of course. Thank you, Shepard."

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"It doesn't hurt so much, but it itches like crazy." Tali was speaking to Shepard through the comm link. "Doc says that means my skin is re-growing."

"That's great, Tali!" Shepard was elated.

"Doc says two days and I can be out of this place. I really am sorry for holding up the mission so long." Tali was standing on the other side of the bank of windows to medical.

"It's no problem, you're an important part of the team. Also, even though I'm looking forward to our double date, don't rush the healing, we need you at your best."

"I know Shepard. The waiting is excruciating. I think even EDI is starting to get bored with my data requests."

"I always ready for more analysis, Tali'Zorah." EDI cut in. Shepard smiled.

"I'll have another study for you in a few minutes, EDI." Tali shook her head. Shepard let her smile drop.

"I'm sorry I didn't stop by yesterday evening, Tali. The mission to help Garrus was so mentally draining I passed out the instant I reached my cabin. I promise I'll come visit after I help Thane out with his son."

"Thane mentioned you might want to discuss the Sidonis mission. I'm here any time." Tali mentioned.

"Thank you, Tali. We can talk about it later. Did Garrus say anything to you about it?" Shepard asked.

"I haven't seen him yet. It's possible he is thinking through things as well, or he might have had a bit too much turian whiskey last night." Shepard smiled at the last thought.

"I'll come visit once I get back tonight, Tali."

"Good luck with Thane's son, Shepard." Tali said as Shepard turned away from the glass.

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"There we go. One of my men reported a drell recently, and he was talking to Mouse. Interesting." Captain Bailey was reporting on a likely lead for Thane's son. Thane was with Shepard at the Captain's desk. Thane had no idea why Shepard had this kind of influence over the Captain of Citadel security.

"Mouse?" Thane asked. He knew the name, but it was common.

"A petty criminal. Probably not the guy who hired your boy, but a messenger. He's a former duct rat, runs errands for anyone who'll pay. He's usually upstairs, outside the Dark Star. He works out of a public comm terminal. It sounds like your boy is running with the wrong crowd."

"Yes, I agree." Thane affirmed. He wanted to steer Kolyat away from his path.

"If Mouse can't get you in touch with your son directly, he'll know who can. I'll help you if you need it." Bailey said.

"We better hurry, then. Thanks Bailey." Shepard said.

"You didn't tell him that Kolyat plans to assassinate someone." Thane stated once they were away from the station.

"He's a cop. He'd try to stop Kolyat, and one of them could end up dead. I don't want that." Thane's perspective of Shepard was shifting. His original thought of her as a pillar of lawfulness was not aligning with her actions. Though he could tell she was following her own moral compass, she didn't always follow the letter of the law.

"Thank you, Shepard." You have no idea how much this means to me.

"No problem, Thane."

They reached Mouse as he talked into his comm. It did appear to be the Mouse Thane knew.

"Yeah. Sure. I can get you two cases by the end of the day." Mouse said into his comm link.

"You Mouse?" Shepard asked. Mouse turned around to face them.

"What do you...oh, shit! Krios? I thought you retired!" Mouse turns and looks at Shepard. "Commander Shepard? I thought you died! What do you want with me?"

Mouse eventually let them know who ordered the assassination, in deference to Thane. The client was a lower Zakera ward crime lord called Elias Kelham. Thane could tell Shepard wanted to discuss Thane's connection to Mouse.

"That couldn't have been easy." Shepard said to Thane after Mouse left them.

"Mouse knew more about my life than Kolyat ever did." Then a memory overtook Thane. "He smiles up to me; broken teeth and scabby knees; bare feet black. A dead end future looking up at me. Worshiping the petty gifts I offer. I was the only good thing he had back then. But I left him, as I left Kolyat." Thane looked down in shame.

"Don't blame yourself." Shepard attempted to settle Thane.

"If I don't, who will? We must carry the weight of our decisions, Shepard. You, of all people, know this". Thane finished.

"Yes. Let's head back to Bailey." Shepard said, obviously not wanting to think about it.

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"Yes?" Bailey asked as they returned to him.

"Can we talk about my associate's son?" Shepard asked.

"Did you talk to Mouse? Did you find out who he's working with?"

"Elias Kelham." Shepard said.

"Kelham... shit. Ah, look, this is awkward. Kelham and I have a...an agreement. He doesn't cause too much trouble, and 'buys tickets to the C-Sec Charity ball' from me. In return, I ignore him." Shouldn't be trouble, unless someone gets killed. If this guy is moving up to assassination, Bailey should revisit their arrangement.

"He pays you off. You were eager to help us before. What about now? Is it too inconvenient?" Shepard had an edge to her voice. Thane remained impassive.

"I said I'd help. It's just...there'll be repercussions if I don't handle it right. He and I...give each other space. It keeps the peace. I'll get some of my people to bring him in and set him up in a private room. You can interrogate him yourself. I'll stay out of sight. If I'm lucky, Kelham will believe that I had nothing to do with it."

"Bring him in. We might not have much time." Shepard said.

"I'll make it happen. Wait here." Bailey took off to order the acquisition.

The interrogation of Kelham went slowly at first, and Thane was worried they might have to resort to violence. Thane thought Shepard was going to hit him a time or two, not that Kelham didn't deserve it. The man was spouting legalese with enough practice that made him look quite guilty. Kelham's advocate arrived and Thane thought they were out of luck, but Shepard handled it masterfully. She convinced the advocate to force Kelham to give up the target to avoid the minor charge of bribing.

They headed to Bailey. "What's the story? Why did Kelham hire the boy?" Bailey asked.

"Assassination. A turian named Joram Talid. You know him?" Shepard said.

"Joram? Yeah. You might have seen his posters around. He's promising to end organized crime on the ward. Thing is, his message is all mixed up in race politics. He's anti human." Bailey answered.

"We need to stop his assassination. Can you get us to the 800 blocks?" Shepard asked.

Bailey turned to a nearby officer. "Sergeant! Get a patrol car. The two need to get to the 800 blocks."

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They reached the 800 blocks and the officer led them to Talid, then headed back to the patrol car.

"There he is. How do you want to play this?" Shepard asked Thane.

"Follow Talid on the maintenance catwalks. Tell me what he's doing. The krogan bodyguard will make him easy to follow" Thane answered.

"Where will you be?" Shepard asked.

"The darkest corner with the best view." Thane answered.

"I will do my best to leave Kolyat unharmed, but I won't let him complete the assassination." Shepard told Thane.

"That is all I will ask of you. Thank you Shepard." Thane answered. Shepard headed to the nearest maintenance door. Thane gave a quick prayer. "Amonkira. Lord of Hunters. Grant that my hands be steady, my aim be true, and my feet swift. And should the worst come to pass, grant me forgiveness."

Thane headed to the nearest ventilation opening, unscrewed the cover, and crawled into the surprisingly large shaft. It was large enough that Thane had more trouble than normal with the vertical climb. Once he reached a horizontal shaft he had no more difficulty. He was almost able to walk through the oversized duct. He asked Shepard for an update.

"I'm on him Thane. He's talking to some voters."

"Understood" He quickly moved to a ventilation grate at the next intersection. He could see Talid through it.

"You're in position?" Shepard asked.

"Yes." Thane answered. "I'm following." Talid was walking down the passageway. Thane watched as Talid and the bodyguard passed by. They were continuing down the same passage.

"Have you got them?" Thane asked Shepard while heading to another grate.

"Looks like he's talking to another voter." Shepard answered.

"Any sign of Kolyat?" Thane asked.

"No." Shepard answered.

"I'm moving to another position, ahead of them." Thane said before he reached another grate further down the passageway. He watched them walk by. "No problems so far." Talid rounded a corner. Thane went through a branching ventilation duct along the new passageway. "No problems so far. Do you have the target?"

"I've got him. It looks like he's shaking down some of the merchants along this route. The bodyguards are doing the dirty work. If Kolyat doesn't pull off the shot I might turn this guy in to Bailey." Probably not a bad idea.

"Target in sight." Thane said when he reached the next grate. He watched them pass, then continued through the shaft. After a time he asked for an update, then saw everyone. Talid was heading towards his apartment. Kolyat was hanging out near the door looking surly, and obvious. Dear boy, you are not cut out for this. If Talid wasn't distracted he would immediately notice the boy. Thane started removing the grate so he could leap out.

"Kolyat!" Thane heard Shepard yell. Kolyat turned to see who yelled at him, then turned back to shoot the bodyguard. "Thane."

"I saw." Thane hopped out the grate and started running towards Kolyat.

"He's heading to Talid's apartment." Shepard was right in front of him. Kolyat followed Talid into his apartment.

They entered the apartment. Talid was on his knees. Kolyat was behind him with his gun out, pointing at Talid.

"Kolyat." Thane said to his offspring.

"This is a joke. Now? Now you show up?" Kolyat was shocked, to say the least.

"Help me, drell. I'll do whatever you want." Talid begged for assistance.

"Shut up, Talid." Shepard said.

Bailey entered with some officers. "C-Sec. Put the gun down, son."

"Get out of my way. I'm walking out. He's coming with me." Kolyat said.

"They'll have snipers outside." Thane replied.

"I don't need your help." Kolyat said. Shepard shot the gun out of his hand. "What the hell?" Shepard ran up and punched him. Thane hoped that was enough.

"Talid, get the hell out of here." Shepard demanded.

"Yeah, yeah, I will." Talid left.

"Take the boy into custody." Bailey told his officers.

"You son of a bitch." Kolyat spat at Shepard.

"Your father doesn't have much time left. He's trying to make up for his mistakes." Shepard told him.

"What? So you came to get my forgiveness? So you can die in peace or something?" Kolyat asked with an edge to his voice.

"I came to grant you peace. You're angry because I wasn't there when your mother died." Thane said.

"You weren't there when she was alive. Why should you be there when she died?"

"Your mother...they killed her to get to me. It was my fault." Thane said.

"What?" Kolyat's eyes were wide. He was shaking. Thane could tell he was still angry, but it was shifting to confusion.

"After her body was given to the deep, I went to find them. The trigger men, the ringleaders, I hurt them, eventually killed them. When I went back to see you, you were...older. I should have stayed with you." Thane said.

"I guess it's too bad for me you waited so long, huh?"

"Kolyat. I've taken many bad things out of the world. You're the only good thing I ever added to it." Thane said.

Bailey cut in; "This isn't a conversation you should have in front of strangers. Boys, take Kolyat and his father back to the precinct. Give them a room and as much time as they need." Thane nodded to Bailey and guided Kolyat towards the officers.

"You're doing him a favor, Bailey. Thanks." Shepard said.

"Yeah, well, send me a Christmas card or something. I have to get back to the precinct. Come on, I'll give you a lift."

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Shepard waited with Bailey while Thane talked to Kolyat. She definitely owed Bailey a favor or two. Thane walked out after some time. He headed over to them.

"How is it going?" Shepard asked.

"It is going to take some time. He is understandably full of anger. I never should have left him." Thane looked down.

"Keep in contact, and it will get better. We made a positive step here." Shepard said.

"Thank you, Shepard. Are you ready to return to the Normandy?"

"Yes, let's go. Thanks again, Bailey." They headed back to the ship.

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Shepard went straight to the med bay when she returned to the ship after assisting Thane with his son. Tali was up and about, but still quite sore.

"I'm still not sure what to think about Garrus and Sidonis, Tali." Tali could tell it was bothering Shepard.

"It was his choice, Shepard. Try not to let it hang on your shoulders." Tali was laid face down on the bed again. She had finished her most recent bout of physical therapy, and was recovering.

"I know, Tali. I just wonder if I should have blocked him." Shepard was sitting next to Tali holding her hand.

"You did what he wanted. Better that than push a wedge between you. He stopped by earlier, but he didn't mention the mission." Tali paused. "How did it go with Thane's son?"

"Good. I didn't even have to shoot anyone, and Bailey didn't put him in the slammer." Shepard smiled. "Thane and his son are going to have some long talks to work through their issues. Apparently Thane was a bit of an absent father. I hope they can work things out."

"I'm sure they'll be alright." Tali flexed her back.

"Did Doc give you something for the itching?" Shepard asked, remembering Tali complaining about her back.

"She gave me something, but it doesn't relieve all the annoyance. I'm trying not to think about it. Let's discuss something else." Tali said. "How was your personal showing with Miranda?"

So much had happened since then, Shepard had almost forgotten. "It was awesome, Tali. I was worried she wouldn't be interested in me in those fancy dresses, but I shouldn't have. It was very nice. She came up and slept with me last night, too. I think we're going to be ok." She smiled.

Tali smiled back. "I'm happy for you." She squeezed Shepard's hand. "I guess you don't need to sleep with me anymore."

"I guess so." Shepard told her. "Does that bother you?"

"Somewhat. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would." Tali told her. "Maybe I'll sneak up to Kasumi's after she falls asleep."

"That's an idea. She probably won't mind as much as she says, though I wouldn't hold it against her if she is upset in the morning." Shepard said.

"I won't, Kasumi is a good friend. I'll mention the idea again, just to see what she says."

Shepard stayed with Tali for several more hours before deciding to see Mordin and Jacob.