Beta-read by Saberlin.

-J-

Of all the people and places in the world, Shepard knew it was possible to run into people she would rather avoid: Eva Rogers being one such individual. The brush with the krogan had her unnerved, though she did not show it. The distinct possibility remained that it was not the same one Robbins—against all expectations, even her own, though she voiced support of her CO—pummeled at that backwater world bar.

Later. Deal with it later: the likelihood was it was just a brush with someone who looked like someone else. It had to be.

Shepard took a deep breath, regarding the grizzled, sleazy C-Sec officer—former C-Sec officer, and good riddance. People like him inevitably joined the seedy underbelly of inhabited places.

Her mood, far from angelic, must not be allowed to interfere with her mission; it was the philosophy she learned and lived and would continue to live. Still, Harkin was rasping on a raw nerve before he even completed his first two words…though the imposing bulk of Alenko and the slight but much fiercer presence of Williams both threatened bodily pain: Alenko would hold him and the women could have free reign.

The idea of Harkin biotically trussed up like a piñata was enough to break up her funk. It took a sense of humor to deal with people like this.

Still, being addressed like a stripper while wearing her BDUs…

She gave a grim laugh, still imagining Harkin being knocked about by a blindfolded, stick-wielding marine. "I'd rather suck on a liter of acid after chewing on a couple of razorblades."

There were, after all, many kinds of diplomacy. The diplomacy she used with the Council, the Brass, or anyone else over her pay grade was completely different from turian diplomacy, krogan diplomacy (which, while sounding like a contradiction did exist) and Terminus Systems diplomacy…

…though the last usually involved hot slugs.

"You trying to hurt my feelings, sweetheart?" Harkin covertly assessed the threat Alenko posed, recognizing someone who would get riled over this sort of conversation and whose poker face was poor enough to let it show. "After twenty years with C-Sec, I've been called every name in the book. You've gotta do better than that, Princess."

Shepard gave Alenko and Williams a grin, an almost predatory grin. When she turned back to Harkin however, her expression melted like wax to the same cold professionalism she would show to any armed enemy. Leaning on the table, she brought herself to Harkin's eye level, grateful for the high neck of her shirt. "If you call me princess again, I'm going to kick your balls up into your eye sockets." She answered in a tone that bordered on sultry-sadistic. "So if you want to keep your reason for hanging around this dingy little dive, I strongly suggest you tell me where I can find Garrus Vakarian. Right now."

Diplomacy in action. She would not resort to knuckles, but that was immaterial. Harkin didn't know that.

-J-

"He's lucky to still be breathing," Williams noted as the trio picked their way through the crowded bar.

"He's an asshole. They've got good luck." Alenko blinked when both women glanced back at him, as though having expected to see a fourth marine standing beside him.

It was simply surprising to hear him swear like that…Shepard and Williams exchanged guilty looks: perhaps they had let their idea of Alenko as a big boy scout run a little wild.

Alenko shook his head. Well, it was nice to know they could be surprised, but the sentiment about Harkin still stood.

"Ksst," Williams nodded at the bar, to a plate being carried over to a corner where a turian sat morose with a bottle of some spirit and a big glass for it. "Was that food…or a customer?"

Shepard gave a snort of amusement. "All the food looks like it's ready crawl off. Don't wor—" She stopped, frowning at the turian.

"Someone you know?" Williams cast a doubtful glance at the lizard-looking alien. She knew 'lizardy' was not an apt description…but they were…well, scaly and plated…sort of.

"Is it the food or a customer?" Williams murmured.

"No…" But she had caught enough of what he said to the servitor to know that she was about to get involved with something she would rather leave well enough alone.

Frak the asari. "Hang on," she sighed resignedly, running a hand over her hair, "I've got some turian diplomacy here…"

"…that's that General, isn't it?" Alenko grimaced.

"Yeah. I can't believe I'm going to do this." And before anyone could tell her 'Then don't,' Shepard squared her shoulders and hiked over to the turian. Hopefully he was far enough along in his drinking that a squishy little human giving him a swift kick and double-time would work.

Turians reacted well to that tactic, so said everything she knew (as well as her limited experience).

-J-

Williams shook her head slowly, and not because the Commander was letting some asari twit foist dirty work onto her shoulders. Within a few moments Shepard and the turian broke into an apparently heated argument, with a lot of snide human facial expressions as Shepard seemed to goad him, soldier to soldier. However, within a few more moments the turian rose, then drew himself up as though having recovered his dignity, before he judiciously shook hands with Shepard, nodding as though what he said was a positive assessment.

"If I ever get a speeding ticket," Alenko noted as Shepard followed the turian towards her teammates, "I want her to be my advocate."

"Did you miss your real calling?" Williams asked, as the turian proceeded past without noticing the other humans. "Because you can out-talk a brick wall."

Shepard chuckled. "Diplomacy takes a lot of forms, Chief. I like turian diplomacy. It's like krogan diplomacy…" She knew what the reactions would be, and got them.

"How's that?" Alenko asked, willingly taking the bait.

"Negotiation is best when everyone has a gun."