Chapter 25

Shepard walked with quick steps into her ship. Royally pissed off and hoping that no bad news would be thrown in her face any more today.

"Well... It could've been worse." Garrus said from behind her as he was almost struggling to keep up. Shepard understood that he was only trying to cheer her up but after today's little tour of The Citadel, that was a somewhat impossible task.

"You're right, the reapers could've attacked while we were out." Shepard shot back as everyone gave her and the turian a wide path.

"Wouldn't those things called collectors hitting another colony be a more realis-" Garrus began as Shepard stopped and threw a look back at him. "Oh, you were being... Sorry, still haven't figured out how you humans work." As Shepard kept glaring at him, he began to get noticeable more uncomfortable. "Uhm... I'll... I'll be doing some... calibrations before... yeah." He blurted out before he took off ahead of her. Sighing, she took a deep breath and turned towards the nearby terminal.

"EDI, please tell me we managed to recruit our newest squad member without any difficulties." She pleaded the AI.

"Kasumi Goto arrived together with Lawson, Taylor and Holt a couple of hours ago. She has agreed to join the team under the conditions agreed upon."

"Good..." Shepard breathed out. At least this had been dealt with without any hiccups. To be honest, she had expected something to happen considering the group she sent. "Where is she now? I would like to speak with her." She asked and was surprised to notice the brief silence from the AI. Normally, EDI answered a question instantly.

"I do not know her exact location."

"... You do not know... where she is?"

"The only thing I can say with certainty is that she's in the engineering deck. She and Holt have been difficult to track." Wait, what?

"Holt?" Shepard asked as several scenarios began playing in her mind. "What exactly are you talking about, EDI?"

"It's just Holt being Holt, Commander." Another woman's voice suddenly answered behind her. As Shepard turned around, she was met with the cold gaze of Miranda. "They'll tire themselves out soon."

"Tire themselves out from what!?" Shepard exclaimed.

"Commander, welcome back to the house of fun!" Joker, strangely not sitting in the pilot's chair came limping towards them from the CIC. "You're gonna place your bet?" He asked and Shepard looked between him and Miranda who seemed to be wanting nothing to do with whatever it was Joker was saying.

"Here's the report for the day. If you need me, I'll be in my office." The ice queen said as she handed Shepard a data pad before she took off.

"She must be the center of every party she's at..." Shepard heard Joker mumble low enough to not be heard by the woman in question.

"Joker, could you please update me about what's going on?" Shepard asked, wanting nothing more than to know exactly what Holt and Kasumi were up to.

"EDI didn't fill you in?"

"Not really, no."

"I'm sorry, Shepard." EDI's voice suddenly apologized. "I admit that I'm struggling to understand exactly wh-"

"What. are. they. doing." Shepard demanded to know, tired of not getting an answer.

"Uhm..." Joker seemed to be a bit scared as he struggled to form words. "The new woman is sort of... similar to Holt. And they couldn't agree on who was best when it came to stealth." He finally explained.

"So they're down in engineering because..." Shepard began.

"Well, it's a competition of sorts." Joker continued. "Whoever is first found by Zaeed loses."

"... So they're playing hide and seek?..." Shepard asked with a low voice. Cursing herself for what her mind had tricked her into believing what was happening.

"Basically, yeah. A lot of people have taken bets on who's gonna win." He said with a low chuckle. Shepard looked around and several pairs of eyes avoided hers as the people around them had been listening in. "So... I'm guessing you won't join in on the bet?"

"How did they get Zaeed of all people to be the one looking for them? He really doesn't seem like the type to play a game meant for children."

"Credits." Was Joker's short explanation.

"Ah..." Shepard sighed before she started walking away.

"I got my money on the new girl, by the way! So if you're going down there, try and get Holt to show himself!" She heard the pilot shout after her. Ignoring his request, she walked through the CIC and into the elevator. Folding her arms, she leaned back towards the elevator wall. She wanted nothing more but to get out of this heavy armor, have a nice long shower and then get something to eat before falling asleep in her comfy bed. She wanted today to be over and get to tomorrow as soon as possible.

"Found them yet, EDI?" She asked the AI as she stepped out into the engineering deck.

"Negative, I recommend meeting up with Massani and searching together."

"... Why is this being treated as a mission?"

"Because I'm getting paid, that's why." Zaeed answered as he walked around a corner. "Now, I'm pretty sure one of them is hiding in the western part of the area. Now, I was about to smoke the bastard out but the Cerberus bitch intervened befo-"

"You do realise that there are people working down here?" Shepard sighed as she started heading towards the area Zaeed had come from, the western part of the level.

"It's not poisonous or anything." Zaeed argued with a scoff.

"No smoke bombs on the Normandy." She ordered.

"Yes ma'am..." Zaeed sighed as they walked into one of the larger side-rooms. "One of them is in here, I can feel it." Zaeed said as he remained by the door. Shepard took a look around and understood what Zaeed was saying. While she couldn't see anyone, it sure did feel like there was someone in here.

"Miss Goto, if it's you in here, I would like to speak with you." She told the room, waiting for a response. When no answer came, she continued. "Holt, if it's you in here, show yourself so we can end this game."

"Seems like someone is about to pay up." She heard Zaeed chuckle. Her omni-tool suddenly signaled an incoming message.

"Looking forward to meet you soon, Commander." A woman's voice sounded from her tool. Must belong to Kasumi, Shepard guessed. "Nathan is the one in that room. You got him nicely cornered." The other woman continued and Shepard noticed that she was using Holt's first name. That must have been the first time ever Shepard had heard that.

"So that means that you won. Can you show yourself so we can make proper introductions?"

"As soon as Nathan has been visually spotted by Zaeed there, yes." Kasumi giggled. Sighing, Shepard turned back towards the room.

"Holt." Was all she said but she made sure to put all her current frustration and anger in it. Any other day, she would've played along for a bit but now she was not in the mood.

"Betrayal..." She heard Holt mumble before he appeared next to a locker. "We really can't count this one." He continued as Shepard heard another giggle from her omni-tool.

"Remember to expect everything." Kasumi said before the doors opened, revealing the woman in question.

"But normally you don't reveal your position if an enemy asks for it." Holt argued, looking like he was actually upset.

"I'm an enemy now?" Shepard asked while her frustration level kept rising with how they seemed to ignore her.

"No one forced you to show yourself." Kasumi pointed out with a smile.

"... Did you not hear Shepard's tone?"

"You two can argue about this later..." Shepard interrupted their little argument as she rubbed her forehead. "Right now, I need Kasumi to meet me up in the communications room so we can discuss the mission. And then I need Holt to pay Zaeed the sum you promised him." She ordered the two. For a second, Holt looked like he was prepared to argue further but quickly gave up that idea as Shepard sent a glare his way.

"Roger that, Commander." Kasumi said with a smile before she exited the door with Shepard quickly following.

"Listen to your mother." She heard Zaeed laugh behind her before the door closed.