The Blue Suns and LOKI mechs were no match for Garrus' fury, not even the YMIR that they deployed from a crane slowed him down. At the moment they had a moment to catch up to as Garrus looked over into the loading bay where they had nowhere to go.

Garrus glanced to Shepard, "So, Harkin's finally gone completely bad. He was always a pain in the ass. But I'm in no mood for his games. If he doesn't cooperate, I'll beat him within an inch of his life."

"Why do that. You just need to cripple him so he can't escape, then just start shooting nonessential parts, like his arms or his dick."

Shepard knew O'Brien wasn't supposed to be serious about any of his suggestions, but that seemed a bit specific. Though she had a few objections to the plan, especially with how she had to try and rein Garrus in alone, "You seem to be getting tense, Garrus."

"Harkin may know why Sidonis wanted to disappear. If so, he knows why we're here and I don't want him tipping Sidonis off." Looking closely into the room, the crates were already rearranged in an attempt to obscure their view. Though there was a small bit of movement that caught their attention when everyone took cover away from the window. "Did you see that?"

O'Brien was making sure his SMG was good, "Yeah, white or silver. I'm thinking a group of LOKI are on standby for the door to open."

Garrus agreed, "He's getting ready for us."

Shepard glanced over to Kasumi who nodded and 'worked' on the locked door. "What are you going to do to Harkin if he won't cooperate?"

"He's a real criminal now. Working for the Blue Suns. I should just shoot him on sight. But I need him alive, so I won't do any permanent damage. Just enough to loosen his tongue."

"I still think we can at least shoot his legs."

Garrus conceded to O'Brien, "Good point. Knees?"

"Shins."

Shepard interrupted, "You don't need him hurt to get what you want."

As much fun as Garrus seemed to be having about the potential torture methods, he didn't seem to believe he'd do much of it, "Don't worry. Harkin's a coward. He'll talk long before I can really hurt him."

Shepard took a peak, "You still planning to kill Sidonis when we find him?"

"That's the plan. It'll be quick and painless. Unlike everyone he betrayed, he'll be spared the agony of a slow death. It's more than he deserves, but as long as he's dead, I'll be satisfied."

"Garrus, do you really think killing Sidonis will make things right?"

Garrus turned away from her, "I know you don't like it, Shepard, but I have to do this."

O'Brien added, "Besides, a traitor is a traitor. They don't ever deserve mercy."

"There has to be another way?"

"Maybe. But this is personal. I'll pull the trigger. And I'll live with the consequences. All I'm asking is that you help me find him." Garrus looked to Kasumi, "Are you going to open that door or keep playing with the lock?"

Kasumi moved aside, "I can't exactly open this when you three were still chatting." The door opened, "Who knows what's out there."

O'Brien moved away from the window, "Well, there's one way to find out."

"Right behind you." The doors opened as the team rushed to cover behind some crates. The path they had available would force them down a specific route as Blue Suns opened fire on them on elevated platforms.

EDI contacted the team with a new update, "Shepard, I have patched into the warehouse scanners. The crates in the transport carriers overhead are rigged to explode when dropped."

Shepard looked up to find one of the carriers overhead. She shot it down, dropping it onto one of the Blue Suns, "Good to know."

A few of the carriers dropped off more LOKI mechs in their way as Harkin yelled over the PA, "Why don't you just turn around?"

O'Brien took out the Blue Suns commander before diving for cover. "This guy isn't serious, is he? With the body count we're building here."

"I'm not running from you, Shepard!"

Kasumi disappeared, smacking one of the mechs' power cell to destroy it, reappearing next to O'Brien, "Sounds like it."

Garrus blasted a Sun above them, "Harkin's going to regret this!"

Garrus and O'Brien both started to climb up the platforms as Shepard and Kasumi finished off the mechs. "Garrus, wait!" Shepard climbed one of the platforms now to try and catch up on their head start.

Garrus and O'Brien only stopped when they spotted trouble heading their way, "Oh, crap. Two heavy mechs—incoming!" the cranes dropped the YMIR in front of Harkin, unfolding and opening fire on the group.

"Do you really think you can take me down, Shepard?"

"I think he's underestimating us."

O'Brien started shooting at one when it switched to launch its missiles. "If Six or Jorge were here these tin cans wouldn't even count as a warm-up."

Kasumi tossed a tech mine that detonated between the two mechs, "So what are we, chopped liver?"

As soon as the shields on the two mechs were down, Shepard had an idea. "Kasumi, think you can get on one of them and grab the attention of the other?"

"If you're asking me to do what I think you want me to do, then I'm all game!" Kasumi disappeared before reappearing on the back of the furthest YMIR. "Yo ho, over here waffle iron." She really managed to garner attention after firing a few shots into the mech's missile arm. The YMIR opened fire to try and hit Kasumi who quickly retreated behind the YMIR to incur friendly fire.

While the YMIR attacked its fellow mech Shepard, Garrus and O'Brien focused their fire on the attacking YMIR. O'Brien and Garrus shot into the power cell to shut it down. Kasumi was also pulling the power cell out of the mech she was riding.

With both YMIR fallen the floor started to rise to try and stop them. The last of Harkin's defenses activated, three more LOKI mechs that started firing from the elevated position.

The mechs were easily and swiftly destroyed before they emptied their first thermal clip. Shepard, O'Brien and Kasumi climbed up the platforms as Garrus moved to the other side to corner Harkin.

After giving Garrus a bit of time to sneak around the other rushed in with weapons trained on Harkin. Harkin tried to retreat through the other door, just as expected. "You were close, but not close enough."

Garrus surprised Harkin, using the stock of his sniper rifle to smack Harkin's face. As Harkin tried to recover from the hit, Garrus dragged Harkin back into the room, slamming him against the wall, "So, Fade…couldn't make yourself disappear, huh?"

"Come on, Garrus—we can work this out. Whaddaya need?"

Garrus back off for a moment, letting go of Harkin, "I'm looking for someone."

"Well, I guess we both have something the other one wants."

Garrus sneered, quickly returning to Harkin to knee his stomach. Shepard just watched as Harkin crawled back up to his feet, "We're not here to ask favors, Harkin."

"You don't say…"

"You helped a friend of mine disappear. I need to find him."

Harkin was still recovering from that kneeing, though he was trying his best to hide it, "I might need a little more information than that."

"His name was Sidonis. Turian, came from the—"

"I know who he is, and I'm not telling you squat."

O'Brien moved closer, "You know whatever happens next is your own damn fault."

Harkin spat at O'Brien's visor, "Screw you. I don't give out client information. It's bad for business."

Garrus kneed Harkin again but this time he put his taloned foot to Harkin's neck after he fell, "You know what else is bad for business? A broken neck!"

Harkin quickly started to feasibly attempt to get Garrus off his neck, "All right! All right! Get off me!" Shepard quickly nudged Garrus' shoulder to get him to stop, though he seemed a bit reluctant about it. With a moment to breathe again, Harkin was checking his neck, "Terminus really changed you, huh, Garrus?"

"No, but Sidonis…opened my eyes. Now arrange a meeting."

Harkin looked rather hesitant again, but Garrus glared at him, nodding toward the nearby terminal. Harkin limped over, "I'm going." While Harkin was setting the meeting up, O'Brien and Garrus both pulled out their pistols, and Shepard didn't like what the two of them were thinking. When he was finished Harkin terminated the call, "It's all good. He wants to meet you in front of Orbital Lounge. Middle of the day. So, if our business is done, I'll be going…"

Garrus violently grabbed Harkin again, "I don't think so. You're a criminal now, Harkin."

"So what…you're just going to kill me? That's not your style, Garrus," almost laughing at the threat before him.

O'Brien finally wiped the spit off his visor, flicking it onto Harkin's face, "You haven't seen his 'style' in over two years. Things change."

O'Brien quickly tapped Shepard's arm as he flashed his pistol to her from behind. That was more than enough of a signal to know what Garrus was about to do next when he let Harkin go. "Things do change, but kill you? No. Though there's nothing stopping the two of us from slowing you down a little."

O'Brien also aimed for a leg, but Shepard used him to throw Garrus' aim off, knocking into the two sharpshooters and shooting the terminal instead. "You don't need to shoot him. He won't be able to hide from C-Sec now."

Garrus didn't like the outcome, though without a terminal and most of the Blue Suns dead, Harkin really didn't have anything left. "I guess it's your lucky day."

"Yeah. I hope we can do this again real soon."

Shepard turned away, and the snipers nodded. O'Brien punched Harkin's face followed by Garrus headbutting him. "We didn't shoot him."

O'Brien was shaking his hand, "Note to self, aim below the cheekbone."

Garrus didn't care if Harkin was still conscious or not when he gave one final warning, "Sidonis better be there, or I'm coming back to finish the job."

Six and Thane returned to the Normandy after their business with Kolyat was finished. Six noticed that Thane seemed more centered now that this burden had finally lifted off his shoulders. Thane offered his hand to her, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for us."

Six turned away, "Shepard would have been able to help you just the same."

"True. And she probably wouldn't have physically been as rough with Kelham." Something that Six wasn't all that bothered with.

"So…your son is…?"

"He'll need time, but he will heal."

Six nodded. "Now all we have to do is wait for Shepard and the others to return, then help whoever else might have something bothering them."

"And you? You stand strong, proud. Yet you seem hollow inside." Six knew how true those words were, yet that had never stopped her from completing her objectives.

"There's nothing holding me back. Everything I care for and know is on this ship." Six could feel Thane's eyes piercing through her, even after turning away from him. started heading toward the door, "I'll consider speaking with the Commander."

Jorge and Cortez found Six waiting for the two of them in the hangar. "You both seem rather satisfied."

"Well there's not much to what we had to do. So, O'Brien and Shepard aren't back yet?"

Six looked up, "EDI and Dot haven't found any reports about a mysteriously killed turian, yet."

Almost on cue the other shuttle returned with Shepard, O'Brien, Garrus and Kasumi. Shepard continued to comfort Garrus on the way to the elevator as O'Brien joined Six and the others. "Well that was fun."

Cortez looked to Garrus, "He didn't…"

"No. Shepard made sure of that." O'Brien was putting his sniper rifle away, though he seemed rather disappointed.

Jorge called him out, "Don't tell me you wanted to kill him?"

"What? No, I couldn't care less if he lived or not. Guy was just another turian to me. But…"

Cortez knew what was eating at him, handing him a datapad, "Anderson is delivering the message as we speak. You should get a message sooner or later."

That quickly brightened O'Brien's day. Though Six was concerned about what Shepard is going to do next.

Six found Shepard in her cabin, resting after the mission. Shepard got up from the bed, "I heard from EDI that your mission with Thane was successful. Did anything else happen while I was away?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary." Six looked around to the new ship models that Shepard started to collect, "I heard you managed to calm Garrus."

"Sidonis was already paying for his crimes. The only thing left for him was to try and redeem himself. Even if it takes him a lifetime to try." Shepard noticed Six's rather unusual behavior, "Was there something else you wanted to talk to me about?"

"…No ma'am. Just waiting for your orders for the next mission."

"Good," Kasumi walked into the cabin with two very nice sets of clothes, "Donovan Hock's party is going to start soon and I need to get the two of you ready."

The trio left the Normandy behind and took a shuttle from the Citadel to the planet Bekenstein in the nearby Boltzmann System. Six looked a bit uncomfortable trying to adjust her collar and cufflinks. Shepard was dressed on the other end of the spectrum in a slimming black dress that teased with her cleavage.

Kasumi glanced to the two of them, "Looking good, Ms. Alison Gunn. Hock won't be able to keep his eyes off you."

Shepard didn't like how little they were involved in on the planning since Kasumi was playing everything rather close, "I'll assume Alison Gunn is my cover."

Kasumi slide over a series of files to Shepard, "You run a small but talented band of mercs out in the Terminus Systems. Precisely the type of person Hock respects. I took the liberty of giving you a reputation. Papers, witnesses, articles in Badass Weekly. Just don't start talking business with him, and you'll be fine."

Six finally got her suit under control, "And me? I'm not exactly dressed as Queen of the Universe."

"You my dear, are Ms. Gunn's very personal assistant and bodyguard, Diana Powers. The bodyguard detail is only assumed because you've been seen taking lead on certain high profile jobs that needed to be successful. Oh, and just as a tease, I threw in a rumor that you might actually be in love with your employer. An unrequited love."

Shepard could see the mortified look on Six's face now. "Did you really have to do that to her?"

Kasumi smiled, "Why not? Besides, it makes things more interesting for the guests to talk about when they see the two of you running around together. Also I couldn't really find a dress in your size that looks good with her muscle mass."

When she was finished, Shepard passed the files to Six to review, "Now's probably a good time to fill us in on the details."

Kasumi started to go through several files and photos she's managed to gather, "You have been waiting patiently. Our friend Hock is throwing a party for his closest friends. A couple dozen of the worst liars, cheaters, and mass murderers you'll ever want to meet, all bringing gifts as a tribute to the man himself. Our tribute is a lovely statue of your old friend, Saren, rendered with loving detail and filled to the brim with our weapons and armor. You can keep your pistol, as long as it's concealed. They won't hassle you over a sidearm. Once inside, we'll make our way to Hock's vault door, somewhere in the back of the ballroom. Then we case the security and start peeling away the layers. The statue should be there, waiting for you to crack it open and arm up. Then we just waltz into the vault and take back Keiji's graybox. And I'll finally get a chance to say goodbye."

With all of the details into the cover stories and the plan, Shepard wondered how long Kasumi had been planning this heist. "You've worked really hard on this. Keiji must have meant a lot to you."

"Was I that obvious?" Though with Kasumi's teasing tones it sounded more sarcastic than anything, "Keiji's graybox holds a lot of priceless, personal memories. It's all that remains of who he was. But the secret he discovered is dangerous. I wouldn't bring you two here if it wasn't."

"Speaking of two," Six interrupted, "Why add me? I only make things harder if I can't get in."

Kasumi looked back, "Because you're a Spartan. I took the liberty of looking through a few of Cerberus' files they had on you. You're the one-woman army the Alliance would have killed to have for both Elysium and Torfan. No offense meant to the actual hero of the Blitz."

Shepard didn't mind seeing as she herself even thought about that a few times after seeing Six in action. There wasn't much else left to do other than to get this party started, "This ought to be interesting."

"That's what I'm going for." The skycar landed where everyone else was, just outside of Hock's entrance just as the statue was being offloaded. "This is our stop." Six was the last one out, looking around to the security. "After you, Ms. Gunn."

Before they could actually get to the door however they ran into their first snag. One of the Eclipse scanning the statue stopped them, "Hold a moment, ma'am. There seems to be an issue with the statue."

This drew the attention of the host, "Is there a problem?"

"No, Mr. Hock. Just doing a scan."

Hock looked to them, "I don't believe we've met. Donovan Hock."

Shepard smiled, "I've heard a lot about you. Name's Alison Gunn."

She offered her hand, though Hock ignored it, "And I have heard a lot about you. You've been very busy lately, if the extranet is to be believed."

"Sir, the scanners aren't picking anything up."

Hock looked at the statue, "I don't think our guests would come all the way here from Illium just to cause trouble. Do you?" The guard shrugged uncertain, with Hock shaking his head in dismay over the incompetence. "You may pass through, Miss. Gunn. You were invited, after all. But I will ask your companions to remain outside. You understand, I hope."

Shepard looked back to Kasumi and Six, "Care to explain why my friends have to stand outside?"

Hock looked to Six who looked ready to charge him, "My apologies to your associate, Ms. Powers, but we provide more than enough security and I don't like the look of your other 'friend'," Hock looking specifically to Kasumi now, "so they stay outside. Simple as that."

Shepard could see that Six was acting the over protective part very decently, though she could just as easily kill Hock now if she wanted. Shepard waved to Six to stand down, "If it makes you feel more secure, they can wait outside."

"Good to see we're not going to have a problem. Enjoy the party." Hock walked back inside as the guards took the statue to the vault.

With a moment to themselves their plans already needed to change, "Well that didn't go as I expected."

"No plan survives contact with the enemy." Six seemed skeptical ever since hearing Kasumi's plan, "All of your plans were too detailed and assuming. Little room for the unexpected to adjust."

Shepard had other worries, "I can see why Hock might be intimidated by Six, but any idea why he'd send you away, Kasumi?"

"No. We've never seen each other in person. And no one knows what I look like. Just watching his ass, I'm sure. I can't blame him."

"So, what do we do now?"

This wasn't going to stop Kasumi, "We go on with the plan. You'll just have to do all the talking. I'll stay out of sight and stick with you the best I can. Six will have to find her own way in, without killing too many guards." Kasumi activated her cloak, "We'll keep radio contact in case something else goes wrong."

A/N: One of my favorite missions, though I'm not sure if it's because of Kasumi and her antics or the Ocean's 11 feel of sneaking around and breaking into the vault.