Oh no. Don't smile. You'll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile. — Tessa Dare, A Lady of Persuasion

• SECURE PATIENT CARE, HUERTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL •
— FOURTEEN HOURS LATER —

Miranda Lawson was awakened by a low groan from the patient in the bed next to hers. Alliance Staff Commander Yuán Xiùlán was gradually waking up, and it sounded as if the process was a painful one. "Xiùlán?" Miranda whispered. "Commander?"

Yuán opened her eyes one at a time, as if the effort to open both at once was too much to attempt. As Lawson's face swam into focus, the memories came back in a rush …the splintering sound of shattering polycarbonate, the impact on her ceramic armor plate and shield generator, her impact with the opposite wall. "H … ho … w long?"

"About eighteen hours since you stopped a bullet meant for me, Commander."

"N … na … name's Xiùlán," she whispered. "Where? …"

"Huerta Memorial, Xiùlán. You're still in hospital. Do you remember anything of the assault?"

"Zidàn … Da wo?" [子彈...打我？– Bullet … hit me?] She closed her eyes again, tried to think. "There was … something … memory … s'all blurry … Shuí?" [誰？– Who?]

"My Chinese is quite rusty, Xiùlán, as in—I cannot understand what you're saying—rusty," Miranda replied softly. "I would have to guess you remember getting hit by an armor piercing round fired from some distance, and I expect you're still alive only because of that distance and the bullet having to break a window first. You're incredibly lucky to still be alive."

A male voice spoke up from the doorway. "I'd bet she doesn't feel so lucky at the moment."

Miranda raised her head slightly and was relieved to see it was Xiùlán's captain from the Hong Kong. "Good afternoon, Captain Cody."

"Hello, Miss Lawson. How are you feeling today?"

"Physically? I'm healing, Captain … getting a bit better every day. Having to roll out of bed and fight off six turians hell-bent on killing me was a real adrenalin rush. I don't recommend it."

Cody nodded his head. "I just came down to see the commander, see if she's awake, maybe able to talk."

"Well then, I certainly hope you can understand Mandarin, Captain," Lawson said, her tone ever so slightly snarky.

"Oh, I think I'll be okay," Cody replied with a grin.

Realization dawned on Miranda, and Cody must have read it in her face, because just as she said, "My god, Captain! You're in …" he placed the top of his index finger vertically on his lips as he spread the other fingers in a non-verbal STOP sign and looked imploringly at her; she went silent and mouthed the other three words, '… love with her!'

Cody moved to stand between Miranda's and Xiùlán's med beds, then used one hand to gently pull a few strands of stray hair away from her face; her lack of reaction to this indicated she had gone back to sleep, or she was very good at imitating an opossum. He brought a stool over and sat down facing Miranda. "I think she went back to sleep … I have some questions for you if you're feeling up to it."

"She's been in and out for the past couple of hours, Captain … mostly out. Can't imagine what getting hit in the back like that would do to anyone's motivation to be up and around."

Cody nodded and said, "Doctor Phelps took down the sedative in her intravenous fluids. She should wake up soon. In the meantime, do you have any questions?"

Miranda tilted her bed up as she replied, "Can you tell me why my biotics are being blocked? The Suns had me blocked while I was a prisoner … am I a prisoner here, Captain?"

Cody smiled as he answered, "You're free to leave whenever you wish, Miss Lawson … just say the word, we'll bring you some new clothes and show you the door." His smile faded a bit as he continued, "Your abilities are being blocked with a specific 'cocktail' of drugs, stuff we obtained from the asari. You were …" he paused, massaging his temples between thumb and two fingers, "… having nightmares, Ma'am. Your amp almost overcame the meds on two separate occasions. Blocking you is for our safety and your benefit."

"Right before Commander Yuán was shot, …" Miranda hesitated before she continued, "She was pissed at me … cursed in Chinese, I think … for even thinking you saved me so I could give you secrets about Cerberus. She didn't actually say, but I believe she's looking for other possible sites to find cloned bodies … said some nonsense about Commander Shepard still being alive … and that the Alliance started looking for me weeks ago."

"She was being truthful, Miss Lawson. We have been looking for you for a number of weeks. And, Commander Shepard is alive … her essence, her soul, whatever you want to call it," Cody responded. "I've seen her. Her crew all believes in her. The Repository in which the Normandy is being carried believes in her. We want to give her the chance to walk with us, live with us again. After all she did to stop the Reapers, I think she deserves to enjoy her victory, don't you?

"Wait, what? The Normandy is inside a Reaper?" Miranda was incredulous. "What the fuck?"

"It's a long story, Miranda," Cody replied. "If you're up to doing a little reading, I'll send you a data pad that tells the entire story. The highlights? Shepard leapt into the energy beam generated by the Crucible, adding her DNA to the plasma stream … we think it's the reason our eyes glow; I'm afraid the theory on her survival takes a real leap of faith."

Miranda simply nodded her head as Cody paused. "Try me," she said.

"Her physical body died, of that we're certain; her injuries were so severe she was only minutes from dying anyway. Her essence, her soul, her intelligence, that part of her that made her Rachaél Anne Shepard, an orphan from Mindoir, the so called 'Butcher of Torfan', a hero in the battle with Sovereign, became part of the energy wave as it radiated out from the Crucible."

"The wave overtook the Normandy before it hit the relay for Arcturus, dropped her into the ship's computer. We think it's because of all the Reaper tech grafted into her by Cerberus and the fact the Normandy SR-2's computer core was constructed with recovered components from the computer core inside Sovereign. Hell, the ship still has the IF/F device you helped recover from the derelict Reaper over Mnemosyne."

"The Illusive Man was never shy about using advanced tech to further his goals, especially if he could appropriate it from the Reapers," Miranda said in a quiet voice. "Was he indoctrinated? Did he die on the Crucible, Captain?"

"My guess is yes to the first question. Shepard told Liara T'Soni …"

Miranda interrupted, "… Liara's alive? Is she on the Normandy as well?"

Cody smiled. "Yes, to both questions. As for Jack Harper, Shepard convinced him that he could not control the Reapers. He took his own life after threatening hers.

Miranda brought her hand up and covered her eyes as tears started rolling out of her uncovered right eye. "Dead? The sonovabitch is really dead?" She sniffled. "Hard to believe … all of this." She grabbed some tissue, wiped her eye and blew her nose. "That's quite a story, Captain. A lot to take in all at once. I knew about Shepard dying on the Citadel, but that she's actually still alive. Truly amazing! And what did you call the Reapers?"

"Repositories … it's what they consider themselves to be, the reason for their existence. Hell, some even consider themselves to be 'Guardians'. They wish to protect certain individuals. They consider Shepard to be something akin to a deity … refer to her as The Shepard, or Shepard-Normandy. I suppose Repository is as good a moniker for them as any, since each one contains the collective history and intelligence of the races they harvested."

Cody turned around to look at Xiùlán … reaching out, he stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, and was rewarded by her opening her eyes to look at him.

"Wǒ zěnme shuì dézháo? Yǒu tài duō de zàoyīn," [我怎麼睡得著？有太多的噪音。– How can I sleep? There is too much noise] she mumbled around a frown. She tried to move and abruptly stopped, her eyes reflecting the intense jab of pain she felt. "Mā de! Wèishéme wǒ de bèibù shānghài!?" [媽的！為什麼我的背部傷害！? – Oh shit! Why is my back hurting!?]

Cody took her hand and said, "It's good to have you back on this side again, Xiùlán, even if I don't have a clue what you're asking. Think you can still speak Galactic?"

Puzzlement was obvious in her expression. "Bù míngbái." [不明白。– Do not understand.]

Cody had a difficult time keeping his concern from coloring his response. "Xiùlán? Perhaps that concussion did more damage than the doctors thought. Are you sure you can't speak Galactic? I mean, seriously?"

Xiùlán softly said, "Who are you? I don't understand," before she just couldn't keep up the charade any longer and slowly, ever so slowly, began to grin. "Hello, Bill. Miss me?"

Cody realized instantly he'd been had. "Dammit, Commander. If you weren't already suffering I'd add a punch in the nose to your list of injuries! What you just did could cause a heart attack or a stroke in an old man like me." Hearing quiet giggling behind him, he whirled around to find Miranda attempting to smother her laughter in her pillow. "Not helping, Miss Lawson … not helping a damned bit! But, it is good to see both of you still have a sense of humor after all you've been through."

Turning back to Xiùlán, he said, "I'm heading back to the ship so I can contact the Normandy and speak to Specialist Traynor … tell her about the mean streak you seem to have developed."

"I'm sorry, Captain," she said, attempting to appear contrite and failing miserably. "It just seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. I'm tired of everyone going around grim-faced all the time. We need to have a bit of fun, a reason to laugh somehow, don't you think?"

Cody clasped her hand and said, "You get well, dammit. The Hong Kong won't set sail until you're back on board, hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Captain." She looked at him closely, dark eyes shining with unshed tears. "Bill … thanks … for being here. Means a lot to me … more than I can say." Xiùlán kissed the back of his hand and let go.

Cody swallowed hard and replied, "We'll talk later, Commander. Oh, by the way, Martinez of the Leningrad sends his regards. Asked me to tell you he's thinking of you. You really made an impression on that man. Bet his crew is pleased. Must be PFM, huh?"

Turning to Miranda, he said, "I'll send the data pad we spoke of. Private Abbott or Corporal Vic will bring it by. For your eyes only, understand? The Commander here can answer any questions you may have." He looked at Xiùlán again, smiled, then turned and left.

When they were alone again, Miranda looked at Xiùlán and said, "You do realize he is totally besotted with you, don't you?"

"I do …" she smiled. "Known for quite some time. Not that he would ever admit to it. He's a good man, Miranda … one of the kindest, most trusting people I've ever known. Do anything for his crew, for me. He does know I'm committed to … well, the specialist on the Normandy." Indicating her left leg, she continued, "She was my partner in the Terminus, the one I mentioned when we talked on the ship. I owe my life to her."

Lawson dug around under her covers for a moment and brought out the M-11 pistol Abbott had left with her the previous evening. Saying, "Here's your sidearm, Commander," she handed the pistol to Xiùlán. "Abbott didn't seem to think you'd be able to throw bad guys around for a bit." She rummaged around a bit more, retrieved the spare heat sink and handed it over as well. "I think between the two of us we could do a bit of damage."

"Here's hoping we won't need to," Xiùlán replied. "Had enough tā mā de [他媽的 – fuck(ing)] excitement to last me a long time …" she sighed heavily as she closed her eyes, "… a really long time."

Miranda asked, "Going back to sleep?"

"No. Keep talking to me … keep me awake. Haven't had another woman to talk with in … seems like forever. Feels good. Tell me about your work rebuilding Shepard's body. What were the challenges, and how'd you overcome them?"

Captain Bill Cody paused outside the main elevator, thought for several moments, then activated his comlink as he entered the car and selected the embassy level … May as well pay a visit to Commander Bailey while I'm ashore. Hailing the ship, he said, "Lieutenant Cross? … Captain Cody," and waited. He mentally counted one thousand one, one thousand two before he had a reply.

"This is Cross, Sir. What may I do for you, Captain?"

"I need two things, Lieutenant. There's a data pad in the middle of the desk in my quarters, labeled: Subject: Rachaél Anne Shepard. I need you to retrieve that device and give it to Corporal Vic … he's been released to light duty and I think a stroll on the Citadel would do him a world of good. Have him meet me, …" he paused as the doors parted for his selected floor and he stepped out, "in the lobby of the embassy wing, next to the Avina terminal. I'm going to visit Commander Bailey in C-Sec, and I need to encode that data pad for Miss Lawson's eyes only, after which he'll be delivering it to her in Huerta Memorial. Give 'im a chance to visit with Commander Yuán."

"Aye aye, Sir. Anything else?"

"That's all for now, Lieutenant. I should be back on board in less than two hours."

"Aye, Sir." Cody heard the connection close as he headed for the stairs to Bailey's office.

• NORMANDY · DECK THREE, MAIN BATTERY •

Tali'Zorah slowly walked through the passageway from the crew's mess area to the access hatch for the Normandy's main battery compartment. She had spent a long, sleepless night thinking about the major changes about to occur inside the ship. At the urging of Samantha Traynor and with the blessing of her promised, Liara T'Soni was moving her Shadow Broker operation into a Reaper Destroyer … the same Reaper responsible for the fresh provisions she now enjoyed. Iringù-Eßizkur had agreed to serve as Liara's mobile headquarters, and for the life of her, Tali could not see any downside to the arrangement!

Iringù-Eßizkur was a living synthetic intelligence, totally able to direct herself, and it displayed a distinct feminine personality, unlike every other Reaper she had encountered, including the one on Rannoch. She did not require a crew, making her (Tali still had a difficult time accepting a gender-specific designation for a Reaper) the best choice for the Shadow Broker's new mobile platform. The ship Liara had inherited from the previous broker over Hagalaz was not suitable for traversing deep space, whereas Iringù-Eßizkur could travel anywhere in the galaxy … didn't even need the relays for systems close together, and it's defensive capabilities were second only to a capitol Reaper such as Žiuk'Durmah. Major Alenko and Specialist Traynor had led a short meeting of some key personnel in order to determine if someone from the Normandy should accompany Liara on her journey.

To her credit, Doctor T'Soni had made it abundantly clear she neither wanted nor needed a companion, but the major and the specialist both felt a second person aboard Iringù-Eßizkur would add to Liara's safety … Iringù-Eßizkur's machinery was good, her 'bots were quite capable, but there was a certain comfort factor gained by not sending Liara out all alone. It had been readily apparent that Garrus or herself, or even both of them together, would be the best candidates for this new posting; neither of them were Alliance crew members, and their presence on the Normandy was certainly not mission critical, particularly now they were only weeks from the Apien Crest. True, the ship was not fully staffed, having escaped from Earth in the middle of a refit as the Reapers attacked, but the Normandy had not been traveling free in space since hitching a ride within Žiuk'Durmah. Tali had immediately told Garrus she could not accompany him within a Reaper. She told everyone of the difficult time she had simply performing installations within the giant machine, and that had only been for two days.

She had been so upset after yesterday's conference she hadn't talked to Garrus, or anyone else concerning her feelings about him possibly joining the Shadow Broker, until earlier at breakfast. Gabriella Daniels had just finished her early morning workout and shower. Sitting down across from the unhappy quarian, she came right to the point. "Tali, what's going on? I've never seen you like this."

Tali had replied in halting sentences between bites of Rannochian bread and sips of tea. "Everything is changing, Gabby. Garrus is planning on leaving me behind, joining Liara T'Soni on board that bosh'tet Reaper Destroyer that'll be the Shadow Broker's new home."

"Have you told him how you feel about him, Tali?" Gabby had reached across the table, taken her hand. "Does he know you're head over heels in love with him?"

Tali looked down, blushed and replied in a whisper, "We've never actually discussed our feelings for each other, Gabby. Do you suppose that's why he seems so willing to leave the Normandy… leave me, behind?"

The propulsion engineer couldn't conceal her surprise at this revelation. She brought her other hand across the table, grabbing Tali's free hand as she scolded, "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy! You have absolutely got to talk to him, right away … right now! You cannot leave something this important unsaid!" She had gripped Tali's hands tightly. "You cannot allow him to leave this ship with any doubts about how you feel, Tali! You cannot!"

Tali had stared at the young human female, surprised at the passion in her speech. "I don't know, Gabby. What if he … do you really think? …"

Gabby leaned across the table as far as she could and hissed, "Dammit, Tali! If you don't march down that passageway and talk to that turian right now, so help me I will do it for you! Do not let him get away from here not knowing how much you love him!"

All of this flashed through her mind as she paused four meters from the segmented hatch allowing access to the battery. It was decision day, and she was going to explain herself to Garrus, make it clear how she felt about … him. She looked back down the passage and saw Gabby standing by their table, motioning with her hands and arms for Tali to enter the battery. Taking a deep breath, she approached and activated the hatch.

Garrus had his back to her as she entered; Tali closed the hatch and locked it so they wouldn't be disturbed. She cleared her throat and said, "Garrus, we need to talk."

His reply was just as expected. "Can it wait for a bit, Tali? I'm right in the middle of some calibrations."

She walked to his right side and replied in a cool voice, "This cannot wait, Garrus." She placed a hand on his arm and continued. "It's important, and I need your full attention."

Garrus looked at her, puzzlement plain in his expression. Closing the interface in front of him, he turned to face her and said, "Okay, Tali. What do you need?"

She looked up at him, watching his eyes. "Garrus, you and I … well … I have never told you how … gosh, this compartment is really warm, isn't it?"

Garrus placed his hands on her arms at the shoulders; using his sub-harmonics to emphasize his words, he said, "Tali, what's the matter? Why are you so nervous?"

"Garrus, I … well, I want you to know … I love you, Garrus Vakarian. There, it's out in the open now. I. Love. You. I've been afraid to tell you, afraid you would think I …"

It was Garrus's turn to be tongue-tied. "Tali, I … didn't know, I hadn't … no one has ever told me that, Tali. I … Hmmmm," he trailed off, sub-harmonics buzzing in his throat.

Tali was ready to cry. "I'm so sorry, Garrus. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'll leave so you can finish …" she tried to turn away, but could not move with the turian's hands on her arms. She looked away, down at the deck, anywhere but at Garrus.

"Tali, wait, please! Don't go! Listen to me!" Garrus placed a finger under her chin, gently tipping her head up so her could look into her eyes … those beautiful, opalescent eyes. "Tali … I love you too. I just haven't been able to find the right time to tell you."

"You do? Why didn't? …"

"I never told you because I thought you'd find it silly … a turian in love with a quarian. But I find that I do love you, Tali'Zorah, I love you and … I need you. Thinking about you was one of the few things that kept me going on Omega, Tali. I love you so much, I cannot begin to imagine my life without you being a part of it."

Tali looked at Garrus as if seeing him for the very first time. "Then why are you so anxious to leave the Normandy with Liara, Garrus?" Tali cried. "How do you think that makes me feel, knowing you'd leave me behind to travel with another woman, an asari! … alone, inside a Reaper?"

"Tali, I didn't think … I didn't know … you'd feel this way about … me … leaving the Normandy!" Garrus was having a hard time thinking of the right things to say to smooth this situation over. "I am not deserting you for another woman, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Spirits! Liara T'Soni is Rachaél Shepard's promised! Do you think for even one second I want to face a jealous, angry, Commander Shepard? Let me be perfectly clear … you are the woman I love, Tali. I cannot say it any plainer than that. I love you!"

Tali gazed into Garrus's brilliant blue eyes for a moment, a heartbeat, before throwing her arms around him, hugging him as tightly as she could and kissing him passionately, as if she were never going to see him again.

Garrus wrapped his own arms around her, taking care not to cut her suit with his talons. He pulled his mouth free long enough to say, "Tali … if it means that much to you, I will stay on the Normandy … just for you. The Broker can get along fine without me."

Tali kissed him again, then replied, "She mustn't be allowed to go alone, Garrus. You'd be the perfect companion for her operation. You have enough technical knowledge to help troubleshoot and repair problems Iringù-Eßizkur cannot, and you're a soldier. Who knows what kind of trouble will find her in the Terminus Systems. You must go with her." She planted another kiss, this time on his nose. "Just remember when you're out there battling bad guys, saving T'Soni's blue ass for her yet again, that you …" [kiss] "… are …" [kiss] "… my …" [kiss] "… turian. Understand?"

"I … hmmmm … I think I can remember those instructions, Miss 'Zorah. And as long as we're discussing this, stay away from the Normandy's pilot. I have it on good authority he has an eye for beautiful young quarian females."

Tali smirked as she let go of her turian. "I wouldn't worry about that too much, Garrus. He has EDI, and don't forget, I still have a shotgun."

• COMMANDER BAILEY'S OFFICE, EMBASSY LEVEL · PRESIDIUM •

C-Sec Commander Armando-Owen Bailey was reviewing the data collected by his inspectors and not liking what he saw. The Blue Suns had never been a problem on the Citadel, yet they were here now, if these reports were accurate. The sound of the entry door sliding open intruded on his musings; he looked up to see Captain Bill Cody walking in.

"Captain. Glad to see you … I have a few answers for you, although I'd bet you're not going to be pleased."

Cody took a seat in one the chairs in front of Bailey's desk. "My XO is in the hospital with some serious injuries, so I'm already not pleased; anything you have to tell me will simply add fuel to that fire. What have you got?"

"We sent inspectors in an aircar up to the roof of the ped-bridge … found evidence someone had hacked an access hatch to the roof from a utility compartment … setup a sniper nest with a clear view of the shattered window. No way to identify the shooter, and no suspicious activity recorded on the surveillance video."

"What about the turians assaulting the medical facility," Cody wanted to know. "And how in hell did the Suns turn Doctor Michel to their side?"

"Unknown at this point. We're checking her financial history, looking into her background going back five years or more. She must have been coerced into acting as she did."

Cody closed his eyes and pinched his temples between thumb and forefinger. "What did she use to kill Private Hamilton?"

Bailey looked through the info on his data pad. "Hmmmm … here it is. She used a combo syringe/spray injector. Oddest thing … there was no trace of anything in the chamber. Autopsy couldn't find any toxins in the young man's system. Trace on his neck agrees with the lab's theory she injected an air bubble in his jugular, but that doesn't explain how she dropped him so quickly." Bailey shook his head. "Real shame. Young man makes it through a war with the greatest enemy this galaxy has ever known, only to die at the hands of a doctor inside a hospital."

"A fact I'm sure will be of no comfort at all to his family," Cody replied. "Keep digging, Bailey. I talked to Private Abbott regarding the firefight, and I retrieved the recordings made by their hard suit computers. Yuán ordered Michel's death … told Abbott to kill her; he shot her in the chest—triple tap … bullets alone were fatal, but falling on the live flash-bang she dropped really finished her off."

"But what made Yuán suspicious of her in the first place?" Bailey wanted to know.

Cody massaged the back of his neck as he replied, "Long as I've known her, she's had a real talent for reading people, anticipating things. Some of that can be attributed to her upbringing, her training before she enlisted. She's Chinese, Bailey. Learned how to fight almost as soon as she could walk. Her mother trained her … defensive exercises and moves for her first eight years or so. Now? It's almost like she has a sixth sense. You read the report on her attackers in the shuttle? She had her back to them until an instant before she killed them, then killed both of them simultaneously. Reflexes are almost supernatural."

"Didn't help her much with that sniper," Bailey observed.

"Consciously or not, she could sense something wasn't right about that ped-bridge. Miranda would have died if Yuán hadn't put herself in the line of fire. She had the shutters coming down when she put her back towards that glass. I don't think her chest plate would have stopped that first round, Bailey." Cody thought about what he had heard on the recordings. "There was enough extra equipment on her backplate to just … just … stop that slug; gave Lawson time to dive for the deck; gave Abbott time to get into the room. She put herself in harm's way to save Miranda Lawson. I intend to see she gets a medal for that, soon as I can." Cody rose to leave. Offering his hand, he said, "Keep digging, Commander. Turn over enough rocks, slimy things are bound to scuttle for cover."

• LOBBY, EMBASSY LEVEL · PRESIDIUM •

Captain Cody saw Private Vic standing by the Avina terminal outside the elevator. Vic turned, saw Cody start down the stairs and started walking to meet him. The private glanced at the turian following Cody down the stairs and felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The turian, totally focused on Cody, paid Vic no attention. For his part, Vic moved to his left as he undocked his pistol, touched the comlink in his ear and said, "Break right, Captain!"

Cody had no doubt whatsoever that Vic had spotted something. As his foot left the bottom riser of the stairs, he made a dive for the floor to his right as the turian pulled a pistol and brought it up to fire.

The bullet from Vic's gun caught him in the center of his chest plate, dropping his kinetic barrier just as the follow-up hit two centimeters to the right; this dropped him to the floor on top of a slowly spreading pool of blue.

Cody scrambled to the turian's side as Vic came running up to stand guard over his captain. Grabbing the top edge of the chest plate, Cody rolled his would be assassin over. "Who sent you!?" he shouted. Shaking the dying man violently, he repeated, "Who the hell sent you!?"

Vic, his comlink still open, said quietly, "Look at 'is neck, Captain." Cody did so, and was not surprised to find a faded Blue Suns tattoo prominently displayed. He also noticed there were no facial markings to denote a clan affiliation.

"Who sent you, you miserable barefaced bastard!?" Cody shouted again. The turian managed to gasp as he coughed blood. "Hmmm, die, human …"

Bailey came rushing down the staircase with two of his guards; all had guns drawn as they surrounded Vic and Cody.

Cody looked up at Bailey and calmly said, "Commander, you just lost jurisdiction of security on this portion of the station. Take their weapons, Corporal."

"Now just a goddamned minute, Captain. On whose authority do you? …"

As Corporal Vic took the guns from the two turians accompanying Bailey, Cody stood up and said, "On the authority of the Systems Alliance Navy, Commander. At this point, there's not a single turian …" he made a point of making eye contact with each of the turians accompanying Bailey, "on this entire fucking station I feel can be trusted with a sidearm! As far as I'm concerned it's open season on every armed turian still in a C-Sec uniform by the end of the day. You don't want the walls in this station painted blue, you better start disarming the bastards or transferring them into the wards."

Activating his omnitool, he sent a message to the captain of the Orizaba and Admiral Hackett, outlining his actions and asking for a marine detachment to take over security on the embassy wing, Huerta Memorial and the dock being used by the Hong Kong. Reaching out a hand, he took the data pad Vic had brought, used his omnitool to code it for Miranda Lawson's and Commander Yuán's eyes only, gave it back to the corporal and said, "Head for Huerta, Corporal. Fill the commander in on what just happened here so she doesn't learn about it from the wrong people."

He looked at Commander Bailey, leaning against the wall pinching his temples between thumb and fingers. "Commander, head back up to your office. You still need to finish your investigation."

Bailey looked at Cody as if he didn't believe his ears. "You just said …"

Cody interrupted with, "this portion of the station, Bailey … I said nothing about the wards, and if you want to regain control of security here, perhaps you'd better find answers as to why the Suns seem hell bent on killing everyone associated with my frigate."

• SECURE PATIENT CARE, HUERTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL •

Corporal Vic stuck his head in the door and knocked on the frame. "Uh, ladies? Everyone dressed? May I come in?"

Xiùlán replied, "Come in, Corporal. We've been waiting for you."

"Yes, Ma'am. I have the data pad Captain Cody promised," he said as he walked over and handed Miranda the device. "I also have some news … another Blue Suns attack, this time on the Captain." Seeing the alarmed look in Xiùlán's eyes he hurriedly added, "He's alright, Commander. I saw the guy following Cap'n down the stairs from Bailey's office; warned him on the comm, then shot the turian in the chest. Don't think he'll be getting up."

"Good for you, Corporal!" Xiùlán said enthusiastically. "Use your left hand to fire?"

"How'd you guess, Ma'am?" Vic smiled as he continued, "Anyway, Cap'n relieved Bailey of responsibility for security on three levels here, ordered all the turians in C-Sec uniform disarmed or reassigned to the wards … declared open season on any turian still armed and in C-Sec colors by the end of the day. Don't think I've ever seen him so pissed off!"

"So, what about security now?" Miranda wished to know.

"He's having the Orizaba supply a Marine detachment for the dock, embassy level and here at Huerta," Vic answered. "The Blue Suns really shit in their own mess kits this time. They'll have to use batarians or humans to do their dirty work in this area. Batarians are easy to spot; humans will be a problem, like the three you encountered in the shuttle ride from the ship."

Miranda said softly, as if to herself, "Zaeed Massani …"

"What was that, Ma'am?"

"Sorry, just thinking out loud," Miranda said. "Commander Shepard recruited Massani to help her take down the Collectors. Man's absolutely ruthless … been on the hunt for Vido Santiago for over twenty years. Her decision to save the refinery workers on Zorya lead to Santiago's escape from Massani's revenge."

Lawson thought back to that time … felt so long ago! "Shepard actually punched him in the face for starting the fire in the refinery; he wanted to kill her for choosing to save the workers, but decided to put that aside for the mission." Miranda chuckled. "Never saw her back down from anybody, even the Illusive Man. Massani was on Earth same time as I was … may even still be there. I'd bet he'd still like to kill Vido Santiago … could be a helpful ally, if he can be found."

Xiùlán asked, "Corporal, any Marines guarding the airlock leading to the Hong Kong?"

"Six from the ship, rotating shifts. Nobody gets on without proper ID."

"Good. Head on back to the ship, then. Ask the Captain to mention Massani's name when he contacts the Normandy. Stay alert!"

"Aye, Ma'am." With a shy, slightly embarrassed expression, he added, "It'll be good to have you back on the ship, Commander." Vic looked at Miranda and said, "Ma'am," then turned and left.

• NORMANDY DECK TWO · WAR ROOM & QEC COMPARTMENT •

Alenko had been contacted by the captain of the Hong Kong, docked at the Citadel. "Please standby, Captain. I need to get Traynor, T'Soni and Vakarian in here, bring them up to speed." Alenko activated his omnitool and requested the three to join him, sending a copy to the Marine privates guarding the passageway outside as he did so.

"Actually, I needed to talk to Traynor about a personal issue. May as well tell everyone about the other events of the past few days," Cody said.

"You said personal, Captain? Anything I need to be aware of ahead of time?"

"Actually, I intend to give your specialist a bad time, Major," Cody said with a devilish grin. "See how she likes a joke."

"If it concerns Yuán Xiùlán, do me a personal favor, Captain? Don't push her too far."

Garrus and Liara T'Soni walked into the compartment to stand on either side of Alenko.

Cody greeted the pair as they appeared in his own QEC display. "Vakarian? Doctor T'Soni? Good to see both of you."

Garrus greeted the captain with, "Captain Cody. Specialist Traynor will join us shortly. What can we do for you?"

Cody spent the next fifteen minutes giving them the rundown of everything since their arrival at the Citadel, from the kidnapping attempt foiled by Commander Yuán, to her nearly being killed by a sniper in Huerta Memorial, to the just hours ago attempt on his own life.

"That's pretty incredible, Captain. Assassination attempt in the embassy lobby," Garrus said in amazement. "So, how fast are the turian C-Sec people leaving the area?"

"Don't know, Vakarian. I do know they'd better be disarmed or gone from the three levels by midnight, or Alliance Marines will start killing them," Cody replied.

"But surely the Council won't allow …" Garrus started to say.

Cody interrupted with, "… Council can go to hell, Vakarian. The Alliance has taken over security of the three levels, particularly the embassy level. The Council is powerless, a total waste of time. The asari homeworld is in flames, same as ours … sorry, Doctor T'Soni. Salarians are a bunch of back-stabbing cowards; the turian councilor can kiss my ass if he thinks for one second I'll back down from reestablishing real security on the Citadel."

Specialist Traynor walked into the compartment just in time to hear Cody declare, "They very nearly killed my XO, goddammit! I mean to see every last one of the bastards in irons or dead. We're going to bring the full weight of the Alliance military down on their heads."

Traynor couldn't contain her anxiety. "Sir, is Commander Yuán … will she be okay? What happened to her?"

"Shot in the back by a sniper, Specialist," Cody replied, "from 492 meters, through a curved polycarbonate window in the room with Miranda Lawson, whom we believe was the actual target. Impact slammed her head first into the opposite wall, gave her a concussion. I just talked to her a short time ago … she's in a secure patient room with Miss Lawson."

Alenko gently placed a hand on Samantha's shoulder as she asked, "Is there any way I can speak with her, Sir?"

"I expect it'd be easier for you to contact her through the extranet, Specialist," Cody replied with a sympathetic smile. "She can't be moved for several more days, and she'll be on restricted duty once she's back on her feet. I'll tell her to expect to hear from you."

"Thank you, Sir."

Garrus said, "You're going to get some real blowback if you take on the Council, Captain. The turians have a long memory, asari even longer, especially after both races just helped save your planet from becoming a smoking cinder."

"Not worried about any of them at this point, Vakarian. The turians I've seen in the past two days were all murdering cowards, hiding in C-Sec uniforms right in plain sight. Didn't even bother to remove their tattoos. If they are working for the Suns, I don't give a damn who they are, Garrus. Humans? Batarians? They're all going to die, if I have to spend the rest of my life and chase them across the galaxy to do it."

Garrus changed the subject. "Hard to believe Chloe Michel was in so deep with the Suns she'd resort to murder. Just seems so … hmmmm, I don't know, against type for her. The Suns must have really had her back against a wall! I believe she had a brother on the Citadel … perhaps they used him to get to her … kidnapped him, threatened him?"

"Makes sense, I suppose," Cody replied. "Gives us a reason for her behavior if that's the case. I'll tell Bailey to start looking at that angle, although with Chloe dead, her brother may have already been killed. We'll look into it anyway. I also have Bailey checking into her background, all the way back to her clinic in the wards. Perhaps the Shadow Broker can find some evidence. Might get lucky." Cody paused, placing a finger on his ear to listen to his comlink before continuing. "Oh, and perhaps the broker can find the location of Zaeed Massani. Founded the Suns with Vido Santiago; Vido screwed him over, which somehow does not surprise me. Understand Massani was on Earth. Has had a major hard-on for Santiago for over twenty years.

Alenko said, "We'll send the messages along. Thanks for the update Captain. Good luck on the Citadel."

"Just one thing … Specialist Traynor, is there anything you can tell me, anything at all, that would allow me to pay Xiùlán back for scaring ten years off my life."

"What …? I don't understand, Sir."

"She appeared to wake up able to speak only Mandarin, Specialist. Pretended not to know who I was. I was afraid the concussion she suffered had injured her worse than originally thought."

Cody smiled as he continued, "She was totally pulling my leg. Even Miranda Lawson was laughing. I need to find a way to pay her back somehow. You know her better than anyone else. Any ideas?"

Samantha smiled. "If I think of something, you'll be the first to know, Sir."

A/N: I wrote the section concerning Tali confronting Garrus while listening to 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis', composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1910; fifteen minutes of some of the most incredibly lush string music ever created. Give it a listen while reading about Tali and Garrus declaring their love for each other, particularly at the ten to eleven minute mark, and the little solo passage near the end at 14:45 or so. If you possess a soul, you cannot remain unmoved by this piece of music!