CHAPTER 29

Rosemary's brow furrowed. "What makes you think that Saeli's planning something."

Balint glared at the wall behind Rosemary's head. "We both know her, Rose. The fact is... nothing is happening. Divide has claimed a good-sized territory in the Wards – but their gang activity hasn't reached the Crucible... yet."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

The turian shook his head. "No. We know Divide's agenda. They're anti-change, anti-synthesization... anti-hybrid. Bridgeton is hybrid-central. They should be attacking us now – at the very least, attempting infiltration. I checked the logs personally; Divide doesn't have an agent within Bridgeton's walls. And that's a bad thing."

Rosemary was almost afraid to ask. "How so?"

"In the case of Saeli and those that follow her... quiet is not good. They're up to something. I know it and you do, too."

Rosemary bit her lip. "Maybe..." She could only hope Balint was wrong.

"Do you remember that human saying that Saeli was so fond of?"

She frowned, trying to remember... "'Cat got your tongue'?"

Balint rolled his eyes. "We're being serious here, Rose," his smile deceiving those very words. "'Go big or go home'."

Rosemary's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Exactly."

Balint was right. Saeli's planning something... something big. Reapers, we're in trouble.

XOXOXOXO

Despite the curdling feelings of foreboding that Balint's warning had left in her gut, Rosemary was trying to enjoy a leisurely shift at Wakey Brews.

The coffee shop was two thirds full, and Rosemary couldn't be more pleased about that. This was her heaven. The air smelled like cookies and freshly ground coffee beans, and was filled with the pleasant chatter of content, relaxed customers. Wakey Brews had quickly become popular, drawing people at all times of day. Ossuri was quickly learning the art of coffee-brewing, and Haka was currently helping Imitha with a pastry menu that would appeal to humans, elcor, krogan, and beyond...

Haka was leaning forward on the counter, surfing the extranet on the credit register terminal, researching volus recipes. Judging by the krogan's scowl – she wasn't getting anywhere with it. "Why can't volus recipes be simple," Haka growled, angrily flicking the screen. "Their ingredients list is five prose-y paragraphs long! If I go into a blood-rage – this is why."

Rosemary smirked. "Good to know."

"Bah. I'll do it later – I'm liable to smash something if I go on." Haka looked at Rosemary, who was checking their inventory list against their supply of spoons. "We're doing well, though. Maybe next year... you and Imitha could think of expanding? Your coffee and Imitha's pastries are addictive – and this will be too small a space for your customers pretty soon."

Rosemary wasn't so sure about that. "I don't know... I think I want to take things one day at a time, you know? What with the crazy gang activity going on... We'll probably think about it more when the territories are settled." Balint's warning had made her nervous, too.

Haka grunted grudging agreement. "I hear you. Just the other day, I got some Eclipse salarians in here – asking me to give them some 'protection credits'."

Rosemary frowned. "What did you say?"

The krogan shrugged. "I didn't go into a blood-rage, if that's what you're wondering. Please notice that all the furniture is intact, and the windows un-shattered."

Rosemary grinned at Haka's wry tone. "Then what happened?"

Haka grunted again. "I told you – they were salarians. I put both of them under my arms and lugged them out the door. … Coincidentally, our street sign may be a little dented."

She had wondered about that. "Ah."

"They're still alive – barely. But they got the message."

Rosemary sighed. "I'll have to write a report about that."

Haka frowned. "Why?"

"If I don't, C-Sec won't increase security in this area. And if they don't increase security – those salarians could come back with friends."

Haka growled, annoyed. "Maybe I should have killed them, then."

"Easy, big girl."

Haka's eyes narrowed. "Bigger than you, maybe. If you'd been a krogan calling me 'big'..."

Rosemary rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh."

Finished for now, Rosemary went back to her office. Nuni was hard at work at her desk terminal. Rosemary placed a dextro honey biscuit and a latte on a space next to her. Because of Nuni, Rosemary was well on her way to operating solely from her Wakey Brews office. "Thanks for this again, Nuni. I can't wait to not have to commute from job to job."

"Veracia still doesn't like it."

"Veracia doesn't like anything," Rosemary grouched. Her captain was a pain – constantly sending her disapproving messages of how he would be 'highly displeased' should she choose to work from Wakey Brews. "He probably gets hives at the thought of me working from someplace comfortable."

"He probably misses picking on you," Nuni said sagely, sticking the straw from her latte through the opening in her mask.

"You're probably right."

Rosemary's omni-tool started flashing. She leaned against her office wall and accepted the call. "Hey, Balint."

The turian didn't mince words. "Bridgeton's under attack."

XOXOXOXO

Captain Veracia appeared at Wakey Brews just in time to stop Rosemary, who had been about to run through the front doors.

"Balint said you would be doing something idiotic," the turian snarled, forcing Rosemary to sit down in the nearest booth.

"I don't have time for this!" Rosemary knew she could easily throw Veracia out of the way – but he was her boss... and that would be rude. She had to go! "I need to go – and help!"

Veracia didn't mince words. "This is a military matter, Fletcher! What exactly would you be doing to help?"

"I... My krogan... strength...?" Somehow, that sounded lamer out loud than it had been in her head.

The turian sneered. "There's a small ARMY attacking Bridgeton, Fletcher! They have GUNS! You won't get close enough to make a difference!" Rosemary was no longer fighting to get up, but he wasn't finished. "From what I hear – you may have krogan strength – but we're talking strength from a small, WEAK krogan!"

"Sir...!" Nuni stood up in defense of her friend.

"QUIET, QUARIAN!"

Nuni snapped. "NO, YOU SHUT IT!"

Completely floored by Nuni's outburst, Veracia fell quiet. Rosemary stared at her friend. "Nuni?"

"Her people are getting attacked, Veracia – and she wants to help! There's nothing wrong with that," Nuni growled. Then she looked at Rosemary, and in a gentler tone, "But he's right, Rosemary. You're better off here."

"But..."

"Do you trust Balint?"

Rosemary didn't have to think about it. "Yes."

"Then let him handle it. He's a soldier through and through – and one who knows command. This is his stage. Yours is here."

Rosemary knew they were right. Her place was wherever was safe... "...wielding my awesome secretarial skills?" Her tone was dry.

Nuni chuckled. "Yes."

Rosemary didn't like it, but she had to admit that Nuni... and Veracia were right. Looking more than a little piqued, Veracia stormed out of the coffee shop. Neither Rosemary nor Nuni stopped him. "I can't believe you shushed him," Rosemary told Nuni, awe in her voice. "He doesn't listen to ANYONE. And you're below him!"

Nuni was quiet for a moment. "... There's more truth to that than you think," she finally muttered.

NO... "You're SLEEPING with him?!"

The quarian shrugged and cocked her head. "Well, not so much sleeping..."

"OH MY GOD, NUNI!"

"Oh, come off it," Nuni said, embarrassed. "How on Rannoch did you think you were getting so much time off?!"