MASS EFFECT: INTERCEPTOR

*Episode Twenty-Five*

Delanynder's Emporium was thick with late evening shoppers by the time Yaro and Brasca entered. The crowd milled around the various displays, murmuring over the prices of rare wines and fabrics while Delan himself haggled with a turian customer.

The hanar rippled as he caught sight of the C-Sec officers but said nothing, and Yaro shot him a quick smirk before leading his turian partner into the back of the store.

He couldn't resist prodding the jelly at every opportunity. Like Brasca's earlier display with the ramen chef, some people needed to be reminded of their obligations at every turn. Some, again like Brasca, enjoyed using their fists enforce their will but Yaro had always preferred the subtle approach, one of threats masked with friendly remarks and gestures.

'You've got blood on your hands,' he said suddenly as the thought popped into his head.

Brasca blinked and looked down at his gloves. Sure enough, there were several dark brown splotches lining his knuckles that flaked away when he scratched at them.

'Is this really worth dragging me all the way out here?' Brasca complained as he rubbed at his stained hands, well aware it was not the first time he had asked.

Yaro glanced over his shoulder, irritated. 'If you want a cut of the profits then I expect you to pull your weight. This whole operation needs to be closely monitored every day to make sure everything's running smoothly. You never know, someone might notice something wrong with the machine in Flux or come across one of the signal relays. Either that or the keepers might take exception to our little modifications. If that happens, it won't be hard to trace the signal back here.'

'So, what do we do if that happens?'

'Can you guess?' Yaro asked sarcastically. He thought the answer was obvious but the blank look from Brasca told him otherwise.

The salarian sighed. 'If that happens then we purge the system. We transfer all remaining credits to our off-station accounts and wipe the mainframe. Simple as that.'

'Oh,' Brasca mumbled. 'Simple as that, huh?'

'Stop being so damn negative. It's just a precaution, that's all, at least until things have been running smoothly for a while and we can afford to relax and let the VI do the work. I mean, this is just the beginning. You gotta expect a little ground work before you can start raking in all the credits in the galaxy.'

As they stopped in front of the mainframe, Brasca's features scrunched into a disdainful expression. He hated computers at the best of times and this one was bigger than any he'd seen before, an enormous wall of lights and circuitry packed into a ridged, creamy brown plastic case.

A central control panel blinked at them expectantly and Yaro raised his hand to the keys.

'First step; type in the passw-'

'Vocal signatures recognised. Users identified,' the computer said suddenly, and Yaro's hand froze. 'Officers Jotan Yaro and Severus Brasca of Citadel Security. Welcome.'

A long silence followed and Brasca frowned as Yaro's brow knotted in confusion.

'What's wrong?' the turian asked.

'It…' Yaro began uncertainly. 'It didn't talk last time.'

'What do you mean "it didn't talk last time"?' Brasca asked. 'You sure you didn't just have the thing on mute?'

Yaro flashed him an annoyed glare. 'What the hell kind of a question is that? Of course I didn't have the friggin' thing on mute!'

'So, what then?'

'The guy, my contact,' Yaro replied thoughtfully, clasping his chin between two bony fingers. 'He said it was barely even a VI. A bunch of algorithms stuffed into a basic interface, that's what he said. They don't usually include a vocal recognition system in that kind of thing.' He scratched his bulbous head. 'Maybe he just didn't know what he was handing over to me.'

'Or maybe you don't know him,' Brasca muttered.

'Now, now,' Yaro responded, turning to face him as he raised his hands defensively. 'Don't go soiling your scaly panties just yet. This is just unexpected, that's all. It's not like I've had time to check out every little nuance of the software. There's bound to be a ton of features we don't know about.'

Brasca looked him grimly. 'Then how does it know our names?'

That was one question Yaro could not answer and his pink tongue was bright against his lurid green skin as his mouth hung open, trying to find an answer.

The tense quiet was broken by the computer as it spoke to them in a deep, even tone.

'Facial scans and voice analogues match those held on file in Citadel Security personnel records. Movements and activities corroborated with internal C-Sec investigations. Several infractions against C-Sec regulations detected. Recent activity includes one assault in Zakera Market; security camera footage time dated thirty minutes ago.'

A cold sense of dread settled on Brasca and his face grew dark with fury.

'What the- This thing's spying on us!'

'Wait a sec,' Yaro said, holding up a hand to calm his partner before turning back to the computer. 'Let's not go overboard here. VI, you said you have access to C-Sec's internal networks. I take it you can get into the Citadel's security monitoring system, am I right in assuming that's the case?'

'That is correct, Officer Yaro.'

Brasca opened his mouth to object but Yaro silenced him with another firm gesture.

'Do you have the means to, say, alter those files? Perhaps if something had happened out in Zakera that we wouldn't want our esteemed colleagues in Investigation to get a hold of, and we wanted Officer Brasca to disappear from that footage? Would you be able to facilitate that request?'

Brasca saw his friend's intentions at last and his mandibles parted in a cautious grin as the computer confirmed.

'That is correct, Officer Yaro.'

'And,' Brasca said quickly, almost barging into Yaro in his eagerness, 'say I wanted to make some old spots on my conduct record disappear? Would you be able to do that?'

'Yes, Officer Brasca,' the computer replied. 'I have full access to all disciplinary records in C-Sec. In fact, the network Officer Yaro has linked me into allow me a degree of control over roughly twenty per cent of the Citadel's minor systems, focused primarily in the Presidium.'

The VI's words swam through Yaro's mind and he stared at it in numb disbelief. His lips quivered, on the edge of crying out in both joy and fear.

Brasca, however, had lost his initial enthusiasm and had resumed his sceptical appraisal.

'I don't like this,' he grumbled. 'I don't like it one bit. Access to C-Sec is one thing but the whole Presidium? Having something like this thing pokin' around in the Citadel's networks, we're just asking to get caught.'

'What?' his partner hissed as he stepped in front of Brasca hurriedly. 'Do you have any idea what this could mean for us? It means no more complaints, no more disciplinary hearings! It means we can operate without worrying about that security cam footage or that loose-lipped witness! Hell, with this VI on our side we can think big, maybe even look at hitting the Presidium's financial district! Tax records, investments, account details, the information alone would be worth a fortune!'

Brasca stared at him, unconvinced. 'This is over my head. It's over your head too. This thing is talking about stuff way bigger than the credit scam you're using it for and I don't trust it. Besides, someone's bound to notice an illegal VI snooping around the internal systems. It's only a matter of time and if we get caught then I think a life sentence'll be too good for us.'

Yaro exhaled deeply. His turian friend had always lacked ambition and under normal circumstances it would be a blessing. He enjoyed being the one who called the shots and always had. Brasca had his uses and they complimented his own rather nicely.

This was something neither of them could have anticipated, however, and Yaro would be damned if he'd let a chance like this pass him by. Glancing at the computer once more, the salarian forced calm into his voice.

'VI, please assure my turian friend here that Special Response isn't going to come crashing through the door at any second.'

'Officer Brasca's fears are understandable but unfounded,' the VI responded plainly. 'I am unable to take action without a direct user request. To make conscious decisions of that nature is beyond the scope of my programming. Unless instructed otherwise, I will remain inactive and there will be no chance of detection.'

Brasca mulled over the answer before shaking his head and turning away.

'I still don't like any of this. I preferred it when it was just a case of sitting back and watching the credits flow into my account. All this talk of hacking into other systems, control over this and that, it just doesn't feel right.'

'I don't want a lecture on what feels right from the guy with human blood on his knuckles,' Yaro snapped.

Brasca glared at him accusingly, and a few strained moments passed before Yaro sighed deeply and ran his thin fingers across his face.

'Okay, I'll keep it small to start with, all right? No toying with the sensitive stuff until we know what this thing's really capable of.'

Yaro watched his partner's reaction carefully, though inwardly he seethed at having to make the concession. Still, he knew that he could not go ahead without Brasca. If anything, he owed the lout the benefit of the doubt with all they had been through together.

The turian rumbled a grudging reply from the depths of his throat. 'One week. If things go as smoothly as you and your shiny new friend here say, then we'll start branching out in a week.' He showed nothing of his anxiety as Yaro grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. 'So, until then I guess I'd better learn these checks of yours. Keep things ticking over, as you said.'

'That you do, my friend,' Yaro said, happily. 'That you do.'

~~~ME-I~~~

Arlen flexed his fingers as he tried to work some feeling back into them. It was almost impossible to do through the plated gloves but he tried nonetheless, if only to pass the time.

The police shuttle was cramped for two people in full combat armour and Arlen had felt little else besides the warm pressure against his leg since Keller had climbed into the passenger seat next to him.

Ever since he noticed her body pressing subtly against his, he hadn't been able to relax and he fidgeted constantly to try and distract himself from the contact.

The gash on his forehead was beginning to throb and burn as the adrenaline of the afternoon's events ebbed away. His muscles trembled and twitched, and he could not stop his hands from shaking. The more he tried to ignore it, the worse it all became and it was with overpowering gratitude that he brought up his omni-tool when it started to chime wildly.

'Incoming call from Lina,' Petra announced. 'Would you like to connect?'

The question was delivered in the clinical tone of a standard VI, and Arlen wondered if Petra was deliberately trying to be ironic.

He smiled and nodded. 'Yes please, Petra, patch her in.'

Arlen's suit radio clicked softly as the connection was made and his omni-tool flared slightly, the device barely able to cope with the enormous strain of a live feed across such colossal distances.

'Arlen, it's me,' Lina said. She sounded almost as exhausted as he felt. 'I'm glad I could reach you. We've got something of a development for you.'

'What now?' he wondered aloud. 'Did the Citadel explode? Have the Council been eaten by klixen?'

Keller stifled a laugh and nudged him sharply. The young turian quickly came to his senses and cleared his throat, suddenly ashamed of the slip in discipline.

'Sorry, Lina, please go ahead.'

'A few minutes ago we received an encrypted transmission. The signal has already been traced to Noveria, though strangely the sender identified himself right away. It's Lorik Qi'in.'

Both Arlen and Keller frowned at the revelation. Of all the people who would try to contact him, Arlen assumed Lorik Qi'in would be the last.

'Is he on the line?' he asked, his mouth suddenly dry.

'Yes, he says he wants to speak to you and you alone.' Lina took a deep, audible breath. 'We'll be listening in but try and keep him on our side. Seeing as how he's come to us, the likelihood is he wants to cut a deal. Humour him as best you can to get what we need and we'll worry about the details later. Krassus comes first.'

'Understood,' Arlen confirmed. 'Patch him through.'

The radio hissed for a moment and Arlen spoke again, wincing as his cuts stretched painfully.

'Lorik Qi'in?'

His only answer was silence and for a moment Arlen feared that he had lost the connection. Only the steady display on his omni-tool assured him otherwise and he spoke again, doing his best to keep the anxiety from his voice.

'Lorik Qi'in, are you there?'

'My apologies,' a warm, rich turian voice finally replied. 'No disrespect intended, Agent Kryik but you caught me off-guard. I was expecting someone a little older.'

Keller fought back an amused grin as she watched Arlen's neck pulse gently in irritation.

He caught the expression and fought to hold off his resentment.

'None taken,' he said brusquely. 'What do you want, Lorik? I assume you wanted to speak me for a reason?'

The older turian chuckled. It was a deep clicking sound over Arlen's suit speakers and he could only narrow his eyes in dislike at it.

'I heard about the Legion's attack on the Jamestown. A despicable act, to be sure, and as news started to filter in of a war on the streets of Nos Astra I assumed my old friend Coleran Vastra would be involved. From what I understand of the situation, you were planning to find me anyway so I've decided to make things a little easier for the both of us. You're coming to Noveria, is that right?'

'That was the plan.'

Qi'in grunted in satisfaction. 'Good. I will meet with you as soon as you arrive. We have much to discuss. One condition, however; you must come alone. I have a lot to offer you and C-sec, but it will be on my terms. All I ask is immunity from prosecution, and that you bring no others with you. We can settle this like civilised men, without the need for…undignified scenes.'

Arlen closed his eyes. Immunity from prosecution? Could he even promise such a thing? Was it even possible? He remembered Lina's words and forced as much truth into his voice as he could.

'All right. I think that can be arranged. I must ask for one thing myself, however.' A few seconds of expectant silence passed and his heart pounded as he pushed his luck. 'Allow me to bring one companion. I've had too many people try and kill me over the past few days to wager my safety on your word alone.'

The hum of the shuttle engines intruded as the seconds stretched out.

Qi'in could be heard breathing slowly, turning the proposal over in his mind and Arlen's teeth clenched nervously at the thought that he had asked too much.

He glanced at Keller, not needing to tell her that he wanted her to come along. She smiled at him in response, her eyes bright in the darkened shuttle.

'Understandable,' Qi'in finally replied, 'though I will only discuss our business with you alone. I won't have our little meeting become a…Mexican stand-up?'

'Stand-off,' Keller corrected.

Qi'in chuckled. 'Ah, so this is her? Well, young lady, thank you for the clarification. I think you'll find Port Hanshan to be a comfortable place to stay. With our somewhat hefty security presence, I daresay neither of you will have to worry about any more heavily armed intruders making a nuisance of themselves.'

Arlen stiffened, his suspicions raised. 'You know what happened here on Illium?'

'Of course,' Qi'in responded casually. 'Noveria and Illium are bound in more ways than you can imagine, Agent. I could name twenty major companies who have immense holdings on both worlds, holdings that generate far more capital than the Council's financial authorities realise. If something untoward should happen on one world, for example, a panic-inducing information warfare attack, then the other gets very nervous indeed.'

Arlen wanted to shake his head. He had considered himself at the very edge of the intelligence web, skirting the crest of the wave and reacting faster than anyone else around him. He could only wonder if Qi'in actually knew more about what had happened in Nos Astra than he did.

'Still,' he said, 'I'm surprised how well-informed you are.'

He could almost hear Qi'in shrug. 'It's just a part of the game, my young friend. War, corporate politics, the game is the same. The only thing that changes are the players.'

Arlen sniffed his disdain for the idea. He had already decided he did not like the man who spoke so smoothly, his every word pouring from his lips with well-practised ease. He recalled how Vastra had spoken of Qi'in, that his charisma had pulled many to the Legion's cause during the Exodus and the Interceptor was determined not to allow himself to be swayed so easily.

'How will I find you?' he asked, eager to move the conversation on.

'The companies here take security very seriously. Even though you and your friend are C-Sec officers, Noveria doesn't answer to Citadel law and everyone is keen to protect their dirty little secrets. I'll receive word of your arrival as soon as you touch down and meet you at the hotel bar. You'll find it easily enough; there's only one hotel in Port Hanshan.'

'How exactly will you know I've arrived?' Arlen asked.

'Well, that brings me on to my other request,' Qi'in replied. 'I've arranged transport for you aboard a corporate vessel. It's a chartered flight, private with a full extranet suite and mini-bar, no expenses spared. It's waiting for you at terminal seven of Nos Astra Spaceport.'

The request sent another shudder of trepidation through Arlen. 'Why would I want to do that? One word from you and I'd be sent on a trip to the edge of galaxy. Or worse.'

'Agent Kryik,' Qi'in sighed, 'if I wanted you dead I'd hardly broadcast my intentions now, would I? If you must know, I am not entirely popular with Hanshan's current administrator. If he gets wind that I have invited Citadel Security to Noveria he may start asking uncomfortable questions. I suggest you enjoy the flight. It's a craft used by Synthetic Insights' more esteemed executives and you should find it very comfortable. There is also a change of clothes to make your visit seem less like a police raid.'

'A cover identity?' Arlen asked, jumping on the clue. 'You want us to pose as executives to avoid raising suspicion with the administrator?'

'At last the penny bounces,' Qi'in responded smugly. 'Don't worry, Agent, I would hardly be the businessman I am today if I didn't keep my promises. Your trip will be more than worth the trouble, I assure you.'

A soft pop signified the end of the exchange and Arlen's radio filled with the hiss of static. He looked at Keller uneasily.

'Do we trust him?'

The detective shrugged. 'I don't think we have much of a choice. The man's not an idiot and I think if you tried to simply storm onto Noveria he'd be able to throw up more than enough bureaucratic barriers to delay us while he makes an escape.'

'Maybe,' Arlen said irritably. He leaned forward, folding his arms across his knees. 'I just have a bad feeling about this.'

Keller grinned playfully and nudged him with an elbow. 'Hey, can you honestly say you've had a good feeling about any of this so far?'

The comment brought a smile to Arlen's lips and he shook his head.

'Point taken, Detective.'

~~~ME-I~~~

As the sun disappeared over the Nos Astra skyline a new daylight emerged as the entire city lit up. Countless lights, from clubs to offices to homes, illuminated the night in a sea of flickering stars that proved more than a match for their heavenly counterparts.

Jacob shuffled through the streets, exhausted, and the pedestrians instinctively skirted around the human who stared ahead, despondent and taciturn.

Around him, the night was ablaze with the red and blue flashes of police shuttles as dozens of officers arrived to restore order to that part of town.

The damage had already been done. The strange electronic disturbance that had taken place during the attack on Vastra's apartment had knocked out power, causing a staggering number of shuttle crashes and leaving thousands of people without extranet access.

Jacob wanted to shake his head. This had been the last thing he'd expected to see since leaving the Citadel.

'Thank God!' he heard someone cry out and he lifted his head.

It was Winterbourne, standing with the rest of the Corsairs who now regarded him with a mixture of suspicion and awe.

Dukov's arms were folded, his expression unreadable.

Chen, however, smiled warmly at the sight of him. 'Thought we'd lost you back there! What the hell happened?'

'That's what I'd like to know,' Weiss added sharply.

It took several moments for Jacob to answer, both to assemble the fractured memories in his mind and then to convey them in a manner that sounded the least bit plausible. He knew how ridiculous the truth would sound.

'I managed to reach Vastra's building,' he said carefully, watching each of their reactions. 'Somebody beat me to it, though. That competition you were worried about,' he directed at Dukov, who stared back impassively, 'the Interceptor - he got to Vastra before I could. Vastra himself was killed in the attack.'

Miller grunted. He was at the back of the group but his enormous frame towered over his peers with ease, allowing him to be heard.

'Who was it? Who attacked, I mean. We were all at least half a block away when the whole thing began and by the time we arrived, the entire street had been barricaded. Sounded like a hell of a fight, though.'

Jacob's eyes turned to the ground. 'They wore Alliance gear but no way were they Marines. Everything about 'em seemed wrong, the way they talked, the way they carried themselves. I don't know who they were but I know one thing - every one of them was human.'

'Shit, this can't be good,' Weiss muttered under her breath. 'With tensions as they are, a full-scale attack by an all-human group will only mean trouble.'

'It's almost as bad as if we were caught ourselves,' Chen pointed out grimly.

His words brought a new silence to the team as they digested their situation. The attack had rendered their careful preparation and secrecy completely moot. The very reason the Corsairs had been sent was to ensure Vastra's capture could not be traced back to humanity, and in particular the Alliance. Now, it seemed, their efforts had been wasted.

'Not only that,' Miller growled, 'but who else knew about Vastra? From what I understood, we were the only ones with that intel. How the hell did C-Sec get there first?'

It was a fair question, to which no one had an answer. Jacob had expressed his worries back on the Citadel that something or someone else was at work, that their mission was not all it seemed. Now those same doubts returned to infect them all.

Winterbourne stirred, catching Jacob's eye. He was glad to see she had survived and he managed the briefest of smiles before Hammond brought a weary hand to his head.

'So that's it?' he said, plaintively. 'We're done? Mission scrubbed?'

'No,' Jacob replied.

He brought up his omni-tool and entered a few commands. In moments, a bright yellow spot appeared on the display, surrounded with constantly shifting numbers and letters.

'What's that?' asked Winterbourne.

'A tracking signal. I managed to plant it on the Interceptor before he left the scene.'

He remembered how difficult it had been to find the right moment, though it had only needed a slight of hand to plant the tracking chip on the turian's armour suit as his legs buckled and Jacob helped him to his feet.

Jacob nodded to his omni-tool. 'If Vastra told him where Krassus is hiding then the Interceptor should lead us right to him.'

'How do you know that?' Weiss snapped.

Jacob looked at the warrant officer coolly. 'Just a hunch, ma'am. I don't think he's the type to give up so easily.'

Finally, Dukov broke his stillness. He smiled and stepped forward to place a grateful hand on Jacob's shoulder.

'Good work, Taylor,' he said. 'Because of you we may still have a chance to pull this off.' He turned to the rest of his squad. 'We'll head back to the Razor. Wherever this Interceptor goes, we'll be right on his tail. Nobody will beat us to the punch again, I promise you that.'

The group murmured their assent and fell out, each to make their way separately back to the docks.

Jacob paused for a moment and looked to his left, where the pedestrian path dropped away suddenly to an ocean of lights and crawling rivers of traffic. As the cold breeze worked its way beneath his skin, he could not help but wonder if he'd made the right decision in letting the turian go.

The city moved on around him, uncaring.

~~~ME-I~~~

'You're certain the reports are accurate?' Chellick murmured as he stood hunched over Lina's desk, poring over the pictures and text scrolling across her screen.

The quarian struggled to hear him over the rising noise of command centre but she caught just enough to nod vigorously.

'Captain Anaya has already begun transferring images of the dead and captured mercenaries and fortunately, most of them are already on record.'

Milo leaned in, brushing against Lorica, who simply stared without a word.

'Damn, these guys have rap sheets a mile long,' the human remarked, scratching his unshaven jaw. 'Slavery, extortion, kidnapping. I can't see a law they haven't broken.'

'So,' Chellick began, easing himself upright, 'we're looking at a motley gang of mercenaries, thugs and criminals. No links to the Legion?'

'The Legion wouldn't work with humans,' Lina answered as she tapped at her keypad. 'Even if they made an exception this once, what would they have to gain from all this chaos? Hiring humans, releasing the Jamestown Virus and attacking a city's police force on their home ground; only one of those things fits the Legion's profile so far. The question is, if the Legion didn't hire them, who did?'

'Then there's the matter of Lorik Qi'in,' Chellick added. 'What do we know about him?'

A new set of files appeared on Lina's computer and she waved them away with a quick gesture. Instantly, they appeared on the command centre's main display for all to see.

'These are the turian military's files on Lorik Qi'in,' she began. 'Service record isn't exactly exemplary. Solid enough under fire but his peacetime activities included gambling circles, drinking violations, even a charge of selling on medical supplies. The charges never came to anything, however, likely because of how close he was to Krassus. Despite all this, he was well-liked by peers and subordinates alike.'

'Then came the Exodus?' Milo asked, and Lina responded with a firm nod.

'Then came the Exodus. He separated himself from the main group of Krassus, Varn and Vastra, and found himself employment with Synthetic Insights as a sales rep. In just a few short years he'd made quite the impression and his rise through the ranks seemed to be just as smooth as when he was in the military.'

Chellick stared at the image of the dark-hued turian on the central screen. Qi'in's skin faded to a pale grey around his nose and lips, and straight white lines were painted across his features, spreading out from the centre. It was an odd colony marking that Chellick could not recall having seen before.

He spoke again, loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. 'So, he finds work with Synthetic Insights, ships what useful tech he can out to the Legion and eventually stumbles across their greatest weapon yet - the Jamestown Virus. Now we're on their trail, he contacts us to cut a deal. Sounds like a simple case of a cornered varren trying to save his skin to me.'

'That's certainly the way it looks,' Lina agreed, 'though there's still something that bothers me; the recordings we took from Arlen of his meeting with Vastra. He mentioned something called the 'Fusion Directives'.'

'It must have something to do with the virus,' Milo ventured. 'I mean, you said yourself that it's only been used in its infancy stage so far. If Petra is potentially the end result, could the Fusion Directives have something to do with what comes in between? A trigger, maybe?'

Lina shook her head. 'I don't recall Petra mentioning them when I questioned her yesterday. I suppose anything is possible at this point.'

Chellick placed his hands behind his back and strode up the main dais to dominate the room.

'Lorik Qi'in should be able to fill in these holes,' he said. 'Until then, Lina, I want you to assign staff to carry on with the virus research and continue digging up what you can on Qi'in. If there's anything we can use against him I want to know. We'll also need to have his immunity sanctioned by the executor, perhaps even the Council. Keep moving, people.'

The command centre exploded into activity once more, their energy renewed.

Lina snapped orders to Milo and Lorica before turning to several others, sending them away with clear, precise instructions. She turned her head and, seeing Chellick stride down the dais ramp in the direction of his office, broke into a run to intercept him.

'Chellick!' she called out, sliding roughly past a colleague as she tried to increase her pace. 'Chellick, hold on!'

The turian halted abruptly with his back to her. 'What is it, Lina? You have your orders.'

Something in his tone gave Lina pause and the quarian hesitated. The question was fair but his voice held a quiet snap of anger, as if she were interrupting something very important.

Quickly, she pushed the concern aside, putting it down to simple stress.

'Chellick, I'm going to need a couple more staff on my team. I don't have enough people to cover everything and we still don't have all the facts on the Nos Astra attack. If we get any vital intel through I'm afraid we won't be able to analyse it quickly enough.'

Chellick appeared to take a deep breath, his armour heaving with the movement.

'I don't have anyone to spare. You'll have to make do with what you have.'

'What about Garrus?' Lina pressed. 'He's unassigned and I haven't seen-'

'That's out of the question,' Chellick answered immediately, the speed and ferocity of his reply surprising her.

The commander turned around then, eyeing Lina with a mistrust that almost shocked her.

'Garrus is…preoccupied right now. His work might be more important than anything we've seen yet.'

Lina found such a thing hard to believe and she narrowed her eyes at her superior. She knew Garrus had been forced away from the team, though she'd assumed it was because of the rumours that had dogged him since the death of their asari witness several days ago. She did not believe them, of course, but it was odd that Chellick still insisted on keeping Garrus close at hand regardless.

'If you say so,' she finally replied.

It was difficult to ignore the chill that had suddenly come into her blood but she tried not to let it show.

Seemingly satisfied, Chellick nodded and his apprehensive manner vanished. 'You're a resourceful woman, Lina. You'll make the most of what you have, as always. Remember to keep tabs on Arlen and Keller at all times. I doubt they'll have much in the way of support, should something happen to them out there on Noveria.'

That was something of which Lina did not need to be reminded and she watched Chellick stalk away, his movements stiff with tension. She stared at him for a few long moments, unable to place exactly why she felt so uneasy.

Eventually the command centre's energy intruded once more and she busied herself with her work, eager to dispel the strange mood that had come over her.

~~~ME-I~~~

Garrus tried to slow his breathing, as if it was no different than firing his rifle practice at the ranges.

He tried to imagine the red shuttle in front of him as a target, nothing more, something cold and lifeless that he could take down with barely a thought.

The thought did not give him the calm he desired, and he set his jaw as the asari councillor's shuttle picked up speed once more.

Garrus had picked his moment well. The Presidium was easing into its night cycle once again, bringing about the almost mechanical routines of its inhabitants. The rich and the important began to filter from their places of work and trickle home or out to the Wards in search of a night's entertainment. The traffic lines had grown thick as a result and thousands of shuttles now clogged the lanes, swelling them like bulbous veins of shining metal and glass.

He did not expect the councillor to visit anywhere but her own home, which itself was also housed within Citadel Tower. It was a surprise, then, to see her leaving as he'd arrived, hurrying to a private shuttle without pause.

Garrus thought she would have allowed for a compliment of bodyguards, considering both her importance and the events of the past week, but he did not see any as he was forced to follow.

Her behaviour was strange, and Garrus' grip tightened on the shuttle's flight stick as he thought it over.

He was well-used to tailing suspects and observing them from afar, and something about the councillor's unpredictable movements raised cold bumps across his skin. He still didn't believe she could be directly involved in the crisis but then he had also believed Chellick to be altruistic at one point.

One thing Garrus had come to understand was how easily people could make a mockery of one's own preconceptions.

Blinking, Garrus inhaled sharply as the councillor's shuttle swerved away from the traffic lanes and he jerked on the controls, taking care to maintain a short distance between them. His own craft shuddered in response and the nose of the blue C-Sec vehicle eased down, dipping towards the white, sloping landscape below.

'Warning,' the shuttle's VI droned around him. 'Speed exceeding recommended safety levels. Please reduce.'

'Shut up,' Garrus muttered, stabbing a finger at the VI's volume control. He'd been piloting these patrol crafts far too long to be chastised by a machine.

It did not take much longer for the councillor to reach her destination. The traffic thinned out as they skimmed close to the ground, and Garrus recognised the parks and waterfalls of the residential district. Around him, thousands of small homes lay in pale shelves that ran across the curve of the Presidium's outer edge.

Her shuttle slowed to a crawl and turned left to disappear between one of the shelves, vanishing into the darkened gap. Only the red glow of the tail lights marked it out, and it was on those Garrus focused until his eyes adjusted to the sudden gloom.

'What's going on?' he mumbled to himself.

They had entered a parking area for the local residential block. The shuttle came to a halt and lowered softly to the ground, and Garrus saw Tevos climb from the driver's seat with unfaltering grace before smoothing out her dress with a few short strokes.

Garrus set his own shuttle down a respectable distance away, moving in slowly so as not to attract attention. He climbed out and was forced into a run as he saw the councillor exit through a lit doorway at the far end of the area.

He increased his pace as she disappeared from view, his head snapping from side to side instinctively as he went. He wanted to tell himself that there was no chance of a trap but he could take no chances, and he bounded with the watchful gait of a predator to the far door.

Garrus remembered this part of the Presidium well from his early days on the force. There were always noise complaints, domestic disturbances or the odd assault to investigate but it was nothing compared to the crushing workload of the Wards.

Nevertheless, the area was deemed important enough to have C-Sec maintain steady patrols to discourage potential criminals and Garrus was wary as he made his way through a stark white corridor.

It led out onto a vast, sweeping mezzanine that overlooked a public garden. The fresh, sweet scent of flowers filled Garrus' nostrils and a multitude of birds called from the trees below.

The lively greens and blues of the grass and lakes shimmered against the clean lines of the buildings beyond, though Garrus paid no heed to the view. All of his attention was focused on the councillor, who strode purposefully across the deserted balcony ahead.

For a moment, Garrus considered that his job would be much easier if Tevos was actually involved in something unsavoury. He had given little thought as to how to accomplish the task Chellick had set him, pushing his fear and doubt into a hard knot in his stomach until he thought he could not feel it any more.

If the councillor actually gave him an excuse to arrest her then it would all be so much easier.

Garrus winced. The thought was still not a pleasant one. He longed to end it all and considered simply walking away. He could turn himself in to the executor and face his punishment, or even run to Omega like he had often thought about, free to redeem himself in the spilling of criminal blood.

Gently, he shook his head free of the fantasy. He still had some good to do and the councillor had piqued his interest already with her unusual behaviour.

He watched as she entered an apartment further down and followed, slowing his movements to a gentle stroll, as if he were simply another C-Sec officer on patrol.

It was only when he neared the apartment that his nose-slits pressed together, the warm tang of incense creeping into them and seeping into his senses. There was something nostalgic in the pungent smell and he tensed at the sound of voices coming from within.

He crept closer, his movements cautious. More voices came from the apartment and as he neared the door he saw that it was open. A single piece of blue silk hung above the frame and he could now clearly hear the soft sounds of weeping.

The incense worked its way further into Garrus' consciousness. It made his thoughts swim and his limbs move, seemingly of their own free will.

He wandered into the apartment without a care for the consequences.

The halls were narrow but clean, the architecture a blend of gleaming white panels and creamy arches, laced with the familiar amber haptic panels that defined Citadel architecture.

There were many asari there, Garrus observed, most of them clad in loose robes of clear white. Some were crying, and the others looked to them and laid reassuring hands on their shoulders. A faint, airy tune entered his ears, its notes mournful.

Garrus' footfalls were heavy clunks that jarred with the softer noises around him, and a few of the asari looked up at his intrusion. No one objected to his presence however, and after only a moment they returned to their conversations without a second glance.

He made his way through the congregation without a word. The scene was surreal to him, a blend of sound and smell, all with an undertone of sadness that was impossible to define.

Eventually he came across a wide, open chamber that lay open to the Presidium outside. A small gathering of asari stood there, their curved heads bowed in respectful silence. Before them stood Councillor Tevos, distinct in her formal, red-patched Council attire.

She stood with her back to the group and Garrus' mouth dropped open as he saw what was happening.

Laid out before the councillor, wreathed in flawless white cloth, I'Lyana Naris' body glowed in the Presidium's pearly light.

A spike of grief ran through Garrus, a pain worse than any he had known.

This was the young woman's funeral, he realised, and suddenly he felt the weight of his shame crashing back down upon him.

Tevos caressed I'Layna's face tenderly and murmured a few gentle words to her. She then turned to face the congregation, a single silvery tear working its way down her cheek. Still, her voice was strong as she addressed them.

'Today we send this maiden into the embrace of the Goddess. Her spirit will leave this world and travel peacefully into Athame's arms, forever content, and where she will know no pain or sadness. The grace of the Goddess is infinite, and so must be our patience. Do not mourn this young one, for she is now beyond all the hardships we, ourselves, must continue to endure.'

'By the grace of the Goddess,' the group chanted as one.

The councillor looked up and her gaze became distant with memory.

'I'Layna was a gentle soul. She became my assistant many years ago and not once did she complain about her duties or commit any less than all of herself to a task. But it was her compassionate nature that truly outshone all else. She would always ask how I was feeling, or take pains to make my life easier, no matter how busy we were or how impatient I became at times. She was…a gift…to all of us.'

Garrus stared numbly at them all. Ahead and to his left, a matron trembled visibly and a companion quickly laid a comforting arm around her before she could break into a sobbing fit.

The woman could only have been I'Layna's mother and Garrus felt a sharp stab of disgust in his chest. He felt as if his very presence was poison in the air.

'It is a testament to the love for this young maiden,' the councillor continued, 'that so many have come to see her into the Goddess' arms. Though I see many siarists here today, I also see a great number of other faiths and cultures represented. I believe I'Layna would be proud to see her friends and family united in their beliefs, if only for one day. It was that idea of unification that spurred her to seek a life here on the Citadel, and in the Presidium. We will all miss her and honour her memory every day.'

With that, Councillor Tevos turned back to I'Layna and carefully pulled the cloth over her face. The act brought an image to Garrus' mind of just days before, as the hospital staff pulled a sheet over the asari's bloody, bruised face.

He did not hear the councillor's final words as he retreated into memory and the blood in his veins ran cold.

The ceremony was short and after the councillor had finished she mingled with those gathered in the room. The numbers had swelled during the service, so that they pressed around Garrus closely and the words of dozens of discussions merged into one.

He stood mutely, not daring to either speak or walk away.

Tevos approached him in time, and Garrus could only bow his head in humility as she drew near.

'Officer,' she said softly. 'I did not expect a C-Sec presence here of all places, or did you come for the service? Did you know I'Layna?'

The question stung Garrus and the asari tilted her head curiously at his expression.

'Is something wrong?'

Garrus took in a deep breath.

'Ma'am, I know this isn't the best time but I need to speak with you. In private.'