The door to the apartment swished open, heavy footfalls stamping through. From the washroom, Cadmus heard Solana march to the bedroom. It was late; Laelia had been given sleeping medication hours ago. Solana had excused herself and Cadmus had no idea where she had gone. He'd spent the time on a walk, hiking into town and back. Now he was cleaning up, readying himself for sleep. He hung up his wash rag and proceeded to the bedroom.

He hesitated at the bedroom door, intending to call out and ask if he could come in but Solana beat him to it. "Come in. I'm decent...kind of."

Kind of? Cadmus stepped cautiously inside. Solana lay sprawled out on her pallet. She wore uncharacteristic clothing, a blue baggy pant and shirt set. She was breathing hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Where have you been?" Cadmus asked, his curiosity piqued.

Solana propped her elbows up on the pallet and forced herself to a sitting position.

"What…What have you been doing?" Cadmus stammered. Dried blood dotted her lip and she clutched her hand to her chest.

"I've been with Bricion."

Lieutenant Devinis. Cadmus clamped his lips down, containing a forming rage. "Did he…try to…" Cadmus gestured towards Solana.

"Oh…No…No. Not at all. He's entirely honorable." Solana raised a hand up for emphasis, then gasped and covered her chest again.

"Then, why are you in this state?"

Solana avoided Cadmus' eyes, looking to the side uneasily. "He's training me…in combat."

Cadmus raised his brow plates and stared down in both surprise and admiration on his daughter. She who had been so consumed with literature and history was practicing combat during her free time? "And what made you decide to do this?"

"Well, I have to have something to do!" Solana declared, snapping her head back to him. "This place is boring."

True. After two and a half months stuck on Sur'Kesh, even Cadmus found his patience wearing thin. The novelty had worn off, replaced by static ennui. But he didn't think that was the only reason Solana had taken up combat with Lieutenant Devinis. "I think this has more to do with Vallum," he stated factually.

Solana looked down, uncomfortable again. "Perhaps…it is a factor," she admitted. Three weeks previously, Vallum, the capital of the turian colony Taetrus, had experienced a terrorist attack from separatists. Thousands had been killed, including the Primarch on the planet and much of his staff. At first, Cadmus feared the dreaded Reapers had come at last, but investigations showed it was terrorism and nothing more. The incident had shook turian space and Solana was especially enraged as images of the dead and wounded poured out of the news. It was a reminder that one had to be ready for anything.

Cadmus lowered himself to his pallet. "Are you hurt much?"

Solana snorted. "Let's just say Bricion is skilled. Actually, I told him not to hold back anymore."

"Anymore?"

Solana nodded. "He's been training me for two weeks."

Cadmus shook his head in disbelief. How had he missed this? Solana had obviously been good at hiding it—until visibly injured. "Did you get medication?"

Solana dipped her head. "One good thing about doing this at a hospital. I, uh, have a broken rib. I got it stabilized and wrapped."

"You sure you want to continue this training?"

"Yes!" Solana exclaimed. "I have to know this. I have to be able to protect myself and..." She halted mid-sentence.

"And…"

"Well, anyone else that needs protecting."

Cadmus put a hand to his chin, thinking. This was more than the Vallum Blast. Solana was bettering her combat skills with extraordinary vehemence. And this, "I have to protect myself and others"? From what? Perhaps… "Aside from the Vallum attack, does this have anything to do with Garrus' claims?"

Solana abruptly stood, groaning. "I'm not a suspect," she grumbled. "So stop interrogating me. I need to take some pills." She snatched a small bottle from the floor, rattling it and stomping to the washroom.

Cadmus lay back on his pallet. Her quick retort was enough to confirm his surmising. Solana still derided the idea of the Reapers if they came up in conversation. After all, it had been almost two months since Garrus' visit and nothing had happened. But apparently, even though she claimed she didn't buy it, some part of her feared it might prove true.

Another thought occurred to him and he pushed himself up on his elbows, looking towards the washroom. Why hadn't Solana asked him to train her? After all, he was much older than Devinis, had more experience. He lay back down, grousing inside, until his inner conscience chastised him. Because it's a lot easier to be instructed by your peers than your demanding father. Cadmus sighed aloud, the truth of his revelation irritating him.

When Solana finally emerged washed and ready for bed, he had his eyes closed. He heard her move about the room for a few minutes, then he felt darkness as she doused the lights. He heard her collapse on her pallet. He cleared his throat. "If you want, I can help you train as well."

There was a moment's pause, then, "It's alright, dad. You watch over mom. Bricion's doing fine."

Cadmus clenched his teeth. He was sure Devinis was, what with his intensive military training. He still couldn't help but feel affronted.

Next morning, Cadmus and Solana occupied their usual place at Laelia's side. They had fallen into a routine, spending mornings with Laelia and afternoons usually on their own when she was in treatments or check-ups. Laelia had exhibited much improvement over the last months. Her breathing had eased, her arms had stopped shaking and she was able to read to herself now, albeit at a slower pace than normal. She still became foggy minded now and then, but it was of little concern when she had shown such advancement in other areas. Her salarian doctors had even authorized her for quick trips outside the medical section of the facility. Today, Cadmus had decided to take her top side again. She always brightened when viewing the picturesque flora of Sur'Kesh.

The nurse brought in a hover chair and Cadmus picked Laelia up from her bed, then gently situated her in the chair. Her blue eyes shone with excitement. Cadmus pushed her down to the elevator, while Solana paced behind. They ascended to the walkway and exited.

"Where would you like to go?" Cadmus asked his wife.

"Anywhere," Laelia exclaimed, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air. Cadmus could physically see her soul being reinvigorated.

"Actually…" Solana said, stepping in front of her parents, eyes dancing mischievously. "I think you should go to the cafeteria and talk to Enom." Cadmus narrowed his eyes and Laelia cocked her head. Solana smiled. "I know it's been hard for us these days and especially you both. You deserve some time alone, so just go." She turned and strolled away, calling back, "Besides, I have someone to meet."

Cadmus watched Solana walk away, assessing her current state. Her mood had lightened in the last few weeks. It occurred to him that Laelia's improvements and Devenis' combat were behind the change. Probably combat more than anything else. An outlet for her trapped emotions. Why hadn't he thought of it?

Laelia craned her head to look back at her husband. "Are we going?"

Cadmus shrugged his mandibles at her. "Let's go see what our daughter has done." He pushed her down the walkway towards the cafeteria. When they arrived, Cadmus sidled Laelia up to the window. Breakfast was long past, but Enom stood at the window, grinning widely as if he'd expected them.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Enom," Cadmus returned. "Our daughter said we should see you."

"Yes. Yes," his smile seemed to widen impossibly. "Follow me." He trotted through a door and emerged in front of them, traipsing away with salarian adroitness. They left the cafeteria and passed along another lengthy walkway, then Enom turned around a corner. Cadmus followed him and found the salarian had halted on a porch. Cadmus pushed Laelia up to the salarian and she gasped.

"Such beauty!"

Various jungle blooms overhung the porch, creating a colorful canopy of purple, green, teal, red, yellow and orange. Sweet scents tingled on a breeze drifting from the edge of the porch and made moist with a sheet of falling water careening past the balcony.

"The water.." Cadmus began, wondering where it came from.

Enom quickly explained. "The facility sits against a mountain stream. Our gardener is fastidious and imaginative. He siphoned some of it to create an aquatic curtain for this balcony. Do not stand too close or you will be soaked." Enom gestured and Cadmus now saw that a turian sized table and chair had been set up to one side of the porch. What was on it surprised him greatly—several turian delicacies. He identified the dishes: Cimex, a rare insect. Cunic, a salty rodent. Baca, a small, red berry and vitellus, marinated egg of the puniceas vulture.

"How did you…get these?" Laelia stammered in shock.

Enom guffawed heartily. "Your daughter commissioned me two weeks ago. I accepted. It was an exciting challenge to find all the ingredients."

"The cost…"

Enom clapped his hands together. "Do not concern yourself. I had extra budget that needed some use. Now, enjoy."

Enom made to leave, but Cadmus grasped his arm as the salarian passed. "Thank you."

Enom raised a hand. "It is my pleasure, certainly." He left the balcony, his impossibly wide smile cemented on his face.

Cadmus, still caught in surprise, pushed Laelia up to the table, then situated himself in the chair across from her. She stared at him, eyes delighted. He blinked softened eyes back. They hadn't been alone in such a serene setting in quite some time. Cadmus cleared his throat and glanced at the table. "I didn't expect our daughter to be so…" He paused, the word he was searching for eluding him.

"Romantic?" Laelia offered.

Cadmus nodded.

Laelia laughed softly. "You didn't see her with Arrian enough then."

Solana and Arrian had always been open with affection, but he didn't know they did things like this. Even so, why had Solana done this now? "It's still strange her up and doing this."

Laelia stretched her mandibles. "It's her apology."

Ah. That made sense. Solana had already apologized to her mother for her moodiness, but apparently she thought more was needed.

"She knows how…difficult she has been," Laelia explained, a deep breath breaking up her sentence.

Cadmus sighed contentedly. He felt pride in his daughter's restitution. "Are you hungry?" Cadmus asked.

Laelia smiled. "I haven't been plagued with hunger recently. But for these dishes…I can make an exception."

Cadmus picked up Laelia's plate, spooning a bit from each dish onto it and setting it before her. Laelia pierced a talon into a bite of cunic and placed it in her mouth. She chewed for a time, savoring it.

Cadmus collected his own plate and likewise tried the cunic. It was good. Just like he'd always remembered it.

After awhile, Laelia spoke again. "Speaking of Solana, she was…stiff today. I sensed pain."

Cadmus raised his brow plates at her. "You won't believe it. She's practicing combat."

Laelia's eyes widened. "Our daughter? Willingly?"

Cadmus chuckled. "I think it has helped improve her mood. There is a turian from the military here, Lieutenant Bricion Devinis. She asked him to train her."

"Oh," Laelia said. Her eyes became conspiratorial and a light smile graced her mouth.

Cadmus squinted his eyes. "Why that look?"

"Well, if she's spending time with a male…"

Cadmus' mandibles shook in agitation. He hadn't considered that Solana's focus was anything more than training. After all… "Didn't our daughter decisively proclaim to you she would not consider a mate in the military?"

Laelia shrugged her mandibles. "That was a long time ago. Her appetite may have changed."

"Hum…" Cadmus intoned. "I have seen nothing to indicate your hypothesis is valid."

Laelia eyed him knowingly. "And you spend your time with them?"

Cadmus grunted, tightening his jaw, and Laelia bowed her head with a small grin. He spent little time with them, only in passing when circumstances caused it.

"Have you heard from Garrus?" Laelia asked, looking back up and changing the touchy subject.

Cadmus stabbed several spheres of baca. "Not since a week ago."

"He's…um…on Palaven…" Laelia let out an exasperated breath. "I forget. Doing what?"

Cadmus eyed her with sympathy. She hated it when her memory failed her. "Security task force," Cadmus reminded her.

"Oh. Yes. How is it coming?"

"Slow," Cadmus admitted. "Turian pride. Planetary security is resistant to intervention and claims it has room for improvement."

Laelia blinked her eyes, stuffing a cimex into her mouth. "Poor Garrus. Why did he do that again?"

Cadmus dipped his head a moment, thinking how to respond. She didn't know Garrus' story even now. How much did he tell her? "Garrus has been out in the galaxy. He senses certain…danger possible against Palaven."

Laelia chewed thoughtfully and swallowed. "I guess traveling and seeing what is out there…can motivate a person." She giggled. "Do you remember when Garrus took the mass field generator out of the speeder and tried to create a block on the front door?"

Cadmus pressed his lips together. "Yes. It was destructive and annoying."

"And funny."

Cadmus released a smile. "And that…afterwards." He'd made Garrus reassemble everything and denied him access to his tools for a week.

Laelia sighed. "I miss him, Cadmus."

Cadmus met her sorrowful blue eyes. "I know. Rest in the fact our son is finally where he should be—on Palaven, gaining the turian honor necessary for advancement."

"I suppose that's true," Laelia breathed, not sounding entirely comforted.

Cadmus patted the table. "Enough of our children. Let's enjoy this meal and each other without burdens."

Laelia blinked her eyes. "I've never thought of our children as burdens."

Cadmus tilted his head. "I did not mean it that way."

"I understand your meaning…Just, Cadmus…If I die, I need you to see them for who they are…not what you want to force them to be."

Cadmus leaned back in his seat, lowering a talon with a piece of vitellus on it. "You don't think I care for them?"

"You do. You've been a good turian father…But they have had different lives than I think you've wanted…and I'm sorry for that, but…it's the way it has been and it can't be changed."

Cadmus put the vitellus in his mouth and ruminated. Yes. She was right. He couldn't undue the past. He could only look to the future. "I promise that I will seek their potential in whatever area interests them." That was the best he could offer. "But you do not have to worry about my parenting without you. The trials are working. You are so much better than months ago."

"I'm not sure…" Laelia spoke hesitantly.

"What is it?" Cadmus asked, sitting straight up in his chair again. "Another symptom?"

"No," Laelia confessed. "It's just…I don't know…I still don't feel right."

"You are still ill."

"Yes. I guess that's it." Laelia fluttered her mandibles at him. "Thank you again for coming home. For being here on Sur'Kesh….You could have stayed on the Citadel. Climbed higher."

Cadmus reached over and gripped Laelia's hand resting on the table. "You are worth more than a career."

Laelia lowered her eyes bashfully. "And your duty to society?"

Cadmus squeezed her hand. "I have satisfied society with my thirty years of service and more."

"Cadmus Vakarian…" Laelia said, looking up again. "I couldn't have asked for a better mate."

Cadmus gazed on his wife, beautiful to him even when sick, paralyzed and draped in a hospital gown. They hadn't talked intimately in so long and even when they had, he'd never said much. Sentimental words didn't come easily to him. But he finally smiled gently and said, "Nor I."

Cadmus and Laelia finished their unexpected meal alternating between reminiscing over the past and silently enjoying the comfort of each other's company. Cadmus liked seeing his wife somewhere besides a hospital bed. She relaxed during the meal more than he had seen in a while. This had been an excellent idea of Solana's and Cadmus determined to find his daughter and extend his sincere thanks.

Cadmus eventually pushed Laelia back to her room. A nurse joined him to help settle her in bed again. She yawned widely, spent from the morning. Cadmus sat next to her as she drifted off in a pleasant sleep on her own, the first she had accomplished that in months. He then left, searching for his daughter. He didn't know where she and Devenis secreted themselves for their covert training. There were no combat rooms in the facility that he knew of. He had just stepped out of the elevator back on the outside walkway when his omni-tool buzzed. He flashed it on and the name surprised him, though it was welcome: Viator Lentinus. He hadn't contacted his cousin yet. He had meant to, but kept putting it off. Their relationship had gone the way of many—distance over time. Viator had Kemi and his own life to live and Cadmus had his family to instruct and care for. Life circumstances drew them apart.

Cadmus tapped the message. It was pithy: Call me. Cadmus flapped his mandibles. Interesting. He would have thought talkative Viator would say more than that. Cadmus made his way towards his apartment. He needed his comm unit. As he approached, he saw a welcome visitor standing by the rail outside his door: Kepel. The salarian had come back with his employer more than once over the last few months and always visited Cadmus. Cadmus relished Kepel's visits, reminders of good times on the Citadel. This time, however, when Cadmus called out as he walked, "Welcome back, Kepel," the salarian turned, his usual grin missing. Cadmus felt his stomach drop, sensing something was wrong. He stopped in front of his friend, eyeing him apprehensively. "Are you alright?"

Kepel bobbed his head. "I am fine. C-Sec is not."

C-Sec? Cadmus leaned against the rail, propping himself up with his palms. "Why?"

Kepel tapped a finger against the railing. "I believe the news will soon become widely known. I have the advantage of communicating with former subordinates."

"Give it to me straight, Kepel. What's going on?"

Kepel blinked his large eyes at Cadmus. "Venari Pallin has been killed."

Cadmus' hands clinched the rail. Venari dead? "How? When?"

Kepel wrung his hands. "When: three days past. How: this is troubling. I do not know specifics, but he has been declared a traitor to the Council, working to bring them down."

"That's impossible!" Cadmus cried out incredulously.

Kepel drummed his finger on the rail again. "Cadmus, I do not believe it."

Cadmus' head was spinning. It couldn't be. Venari Pallin was as loyal and dutiful as turians came. He was wholly committed to his job, his station and the Council. There wasn't a hint of the traitor in him. He lived and worked above board. No…it wasn't true.

Cadmus glowered at Kepel. "I don't either."

Kepel sighed. "I do not know what to do. It seems something should be done."

Cadmus glared down at the rail. "It should."

Kepel's omni-tool beeped.

"You have to go."

Kepel bobbed his head again. "My employer was here for a check-up, nothing more. I could not find you earlier. I am sorry."

"It's alright. Good to see you no matter how short. Thank you for telling me about Venari."

Kepel bowed his head and then stared intently into Cadmus' eyes. "Venari is not a traitor to your people or C-Sec. I am certain of it. Someone will take up his defense and absolve him of guilt. It must be done." Kepel walked off, quick and agitated.

Cadmus dumbly stumbled into the apartment. He made for his pallet, then recalled Viator's message. He didn't think it a coincidence that Kepel had just told him about Venari and Viator had called him out of the blue. He sat down on his pallet, dug in a bag for his comm and stuffed it into his ear. He tapped on his tool, connecting to the code Viator had sent. There were a few seconds of static, then Viator's voice. "Cadmus."

"Viator."

"I should have contacted you before now, but I've been…busy."

"I feel the same. Where are you?"

A pause. "I can't reveal it to you."

"Why?"

Viator sighed. "To summarize shortly, Kemi and I left Palaven a month after we arrived. Our home planet didn't have the necessary resources for her. We found a group of quarians that…uh…aren't welcome in the Fleet anymore."

"Exiles?"

"Not exactly. Quarians who never came back from Pilgrimage."

"Defectors, then," Cadmus concluded. Such a description would have been devastating for a turian, but Cadmus knew little of quarian life and traditions and certainly didn't have any opinion on whether it was shameful to leave the Fleet or not. He supposed it was, but he didn't have any feeling on the matter.

"You could call them that. The point is, they took us in and have been our family for the last year. I can't tell you where they are. It's one of the rules."

Cadmus breathed in deeply. "I understand. How is Kemi?"

"Better," Viator said. "Thank you for asking. She's stopped having nightmares. She's made friends here. She needed that. She's growing into a kind and beautiful female. And she has her share of admirers." Cadmus heard the smile in Viator's voice.

"I'm sure her singing helps her," Cadmus stated.

"Uh…she doesn't sing anymore. She hasn't since Leea died and she won't even if someone begs her." Viator's voice had shifted, sad and sullen.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. How is Laelia?"

"We're on Sur'Kesh."

"Sur'Kesh?" Viator asked, bewildered.

"Laelia is participating in test trials on Corpalis Syndrome. It's a six month series of treatments. We have three to go."

"Are they working?"

"Somewhat. She's breathing better and shaking less."

"Good."

"So…" Cadmus intoned, "Not that I am ungrateful, but I was surprised at your message. It was quite short." Cadmus felt his heart pounding as he anticipated Viator's next statement.

"I needed to talk to you, tell you something about…" Viator's tone had gone deadly serious, "Venari Pallin."

Cadmus swallowed hard. "I just saw Kepel. He informed me."

"Kepel? He's still alive?"

"Yes. Ancient but the same. He doesn't believe it, Viator."

"Do you?"

Cadmus felt incensed and answered vehemently. "Of course not."

"Sorry," Viator apologized. "It's just, you usually agree with everything the Council says."

"Kepel said Venari's death wasn't widely known."

"It is now. It's in the C-Sec news and I'm sure turian space will be all over it now."

"What do they say?" Cadmus asked, wanting to hear something that would make sense of his friend's demise.

"Let me read the statement to you: Executor Venari Pallin has been prevented from corrupting Citadel Security Services and initiating a scheme to cripple the Citadel Council. He was caught in the midst of traitorous actions. He is responsible for the deaths of two C-Sec agents and was killed after resisting arrest and attacking a C-Sec officer investigating his actions. No memorial service will be held in his honor. He's not guilty, Cadmus! I know it!"

Cadmus ground his teeth. "No other details?"

"None," Viator growled. "You know how it is. The Council will spin this their way and say little at all. They're filthy politicians."

Cadmus, although not buying Venari's guilt, still felt taken aback by Viator's vicious hate of the Council. "You shouldn't speak of them that way."

There was a long pause. "I…can't apologize. My eyes have been opened. This latest just confirms what I now know."

Cadmus flexed his mandibles. Perhaps his cousin had been unwise to spend so much time with rebellious quarians.

"Regardless what you think of the Council, the point is this isn't Venari. He wouldn't turn on the job or the force."

"No, he wouldn't," Cadmus agreed. His blood raced through his veins and pounded in his ears. "Kepel thinks someone will defend his reputation on the Citadel."

"They'd better," Viator replied. "I better see a retraction soon."

"Or what?"

"Or…I don't know," Viator said in frustration. "Just…I can't see his name dragged through mud like this."

Cadmus wiped a hand over his eyes. "I empathize with your feeling, cousin."

There were several long moments of silence. What else could be said? Finally, Viator spoke again. "It's good to hear your voice, Cadmus, even if I called under less than ideal circumstances."

"You as well."

"We'll have to keep up more."

"Yes."

"Well…I need to go. Just follow the news. This has to be a mistake. It has to."

"I will."

"Bye."

"Farewell."

Cadmus pulled the comm link out of his ear and lay back on the pallet staring at the monochrome steel ceiling. Just when he thought things were going better, this happened. Venari gone. He could hardly believe it. The executor was supposed to retire an elderly turian at the end of a long and illustrious career. Cadmus knew deep in his gut his old friend was innocent. Somehow, he'd been cheated out of the honor he deserved.

Cadmus kept his eyes glued to the news of Venari's "betrayal." As the days passed, there was no sign of anyone coming to his defense. Few details emerged. There was shock, anger and resentment from turian space, all of it aimed at the dead executor. Turians had no tolerance for traitors. There wasn't even an attempt to deny Venari's guilt. They didn't know Venari the way he did, hadn't experienced his character, his unshakable commitment to turian ideals.

Cadmus plunged into a state of irritability, speaking shortly and hotly to almost everyone. He brooded in the corner of Laelia's room day after day, checking and rechecking his data pad for news. Solana made herself scarce when he was present, his mood an irritation to her, especially after she had arranged the meal for him and her mother. Cadmus had thanked her, but his occupation with Venari made his gratefulness short lived.

Early on, when the news came down, Solana asked him if he'd worked under Venari Pallin. Cadmus had replied sharply, "He was a good friend!" Solana had shut down after that, saying little to her father and spending her time away from the apartment, most likely with Devinis.

Garrus had contacted his father, his message sympathetic but ambiguous concerning Venari's guilt: I'm sorry about Pallin. He and I may not have seen eye to eye, but I never suspected he had the potential for this. Then again, I didn't know him well. I suppose it is possible. Cadmus had scowled at the message. It isn't possible at all, he argued with the screen.

A week and half after the news, Cadmus sat secured in the corner of Laelia's room as usual, data pad on his lap, eyes smoldering. It was late and Laelia was supposed to be moving towards sleep for the night, but instead she had rolled onto her side, her head resting on a folded arm.

"Husband," Laelia spoke as loudly as she could manage, trying to get Cadmus' attention. When he didn't respond, she called out again. "Cadmus."

Cadmus blinked his eyes rapidly, his consciousness coming back into the room. He turned his head to his wife. "Do you need something?"

"You do."

"Me?" Cadmus questioned.

"Yes. This incident about Venari Pallin…It's consuming you."

Cadmus shifted uncomfortably in his chair and wrung his hands in his lap. "It is all wrong."

Laelia creased her brow plates sympathetically. "So you have said all week."

"It's an injustice," Cadmus protested. "His memory is disgraced. His parents shamed."

"I don't think staying here…is going to help Venari…or you."

Cadmus flexed his mandibles. "What are you implying?"

"You need to go back to the Citadel…clear his name."

Cadmus stared at his wife. He couldn't lie. He had indeed thought of going back. Kepel had called him a day ago and expressed his own desire to do something, but he was unable. To leave Sur'Kesh meant he would lose his job and he was an elderly salarian with few prospects. Viator was with his quarian friends who knew where and certainly wouldn't leave Kemi or take her away from them. Only Cadmus had the freedom to go…but Laelia was ill.

"I can't deny the thought hasn't crossed my mind," Cadmus spoke slowly. "But I vowed to stay by your side through this."

Laelia's tender eyes peered into her husband. "As both you and Solana have noted, I am doing better. The doctors have me in…good hands. Solana is here. It is no hardship…for me to be without you for a time." Measured breaths interrupted her speech, but she spoke steadily.

Cadmus' heart thumped tightly in his chest. Secretly, this is what he had desired, but he didn't want Laelia to think him eager to live her behind. And truly, the thought of leaving her pained him. "My loyalties are torn," he groaned.

"I have had you for months. Solana is here. Venari…has no one."

Cadmus stared at Laelia, then stood, crossing the room in a couple strides. Laelia rolled onto her back, gazing up at him. He leaned down and gently kissed her. "You never cease to amaze me."

Laelia smiled. "I'm glad something keeps me interesting at my age."

Cadmus reached down to grip one of her hands. "If you need me, you will call immediately. Day or night. I do not want to hear about any problems or issues after days. Venari may have a claim on my loyalty, but yours is stronger."

"I will contact you. I promise."

Cadmus sat in a seat that had grown entirely uncomfortable, days of travel having taken their toll. He had a slight headache, yet he continued to stare at his data pad anyway. He had scoured all news reports on Venari Pallin's death. The lack of details was troubling. He would have expected copious detail out of something that shook up all of turian space. He felt in his gut Venari's death was being swept under the rug as much as possible. Cadmus wasn't one for conspiracy theories, but lately his suspicions had been roused. Since he had accepted Garrus' story, all the reports on Jane Shepard had been called into question, errors at the least and purposeful lies at the most. Cadmus had prided himself in submitting to the more extensive knowledge of his superiors, but the Council had been wrong about Shepard. What if it was wrong about Venari as well? It had to be. And if the Council was wrong, he could think of only two possibilities: they had been duped or they were involved. Both caused him tremendous unease.

Cadmus drummed his talons on the arm of his seat, skimming the data pad in his other hand. He had the read this particular report multiple times. It held a clue to the event and it bothered him. He had discovered who had actually killed Venari from human news sources that, of course, spun the story as a despicable turian brought down by a courageous human hero: Captain Armando-Owen Bailey, now promoted to Commander.

A human had taken down Venari. This fact grated on Cadmus' nerves. It was an insult to the memory of his friend to be defeated and marred by both a human and a C-Sec officer. And it heightened Cadmus' suspicions considerably. By experience he knew how criminal humans could be. If humans were involved, there was a distinct possibility Venari Pallin had been targeted.

Cadmus' talons had stopped drumming, now pressing indentations into the leather arm of the seat. He would like nothing better than to interrogate this Commander Bailey, but he could not go that direction. He had no reason to trust the human. He would have to begin elsewhere. Cadmus dropped the data pad in his lap, eyes alight with the energy investigation produced in him. He knew just who to start with.

He felt the ship turn. He glanced out the window, blood pulsing through his veins. Looming ever closer was a place that rated a close second to Palaven in his heart. He beheld the central ring and five arms of the Citadel turning smoothly. After five years, he was finally returning, but joy eluded him. Cadmus frowned on the station. I will not let you be degraded, he vowed inwardly to his deceased friend. You will be exonerated.