I do not own Mass Effect. Bioware does.
Since he suspected the civilians in the Citadel might object to Miranda's presence, Saren allowed her to stay in his apartment to reduce as much conflict as he could, giving her a few days to settle in. While she did manage to acquire casual garments for herself, Miranda also took the spare time she had to remove the Cerberus emblem from her uniform. As she disposed the emblem in the trash bin, Saren leaned on the door frame as he watched her.
"Maybe we should get you a new suit altogether? I know that you're a professional and are genetically modified to have biotic proficiency, but maybe it would be worth sacrificing some mobility and comfort for better protection," the turian suggested.
Miranda sighed and she leaned her head back.
"You're not going to suggest combining the three standards for a uniform?" she remarked.
Raising a browplate, he shrugged with defeat.
"If you're fine with the uniform, okay. It's just…it doesn't seem to have much in terms of protection."
Miranda scoffed before she set the uniform aside and started reading her datapad, hoping she would still have some clue on where Cerberus might have taken her sister.
"I've put out my usual feelers, let my contacts know. It'll take some time, but we'll get her back," Saren reassured as he got up from the door frame.
Figuring she still hadn't found a sign of Oriana yet, Miranda sighed as she placed the datapad onto the nightstand. She took a few seconds to fasten the buttons of her casual dress shirt before she stepped over to the door frame.
Saren's omni-tool buzzed with an incoming call.
{Saren, we were on our way out to have lunch. Want to discuss our next move over a meal?}
Saren raised a suspicious browplate before responding.
"You really aren't going to wait for a full recovery?"
{I'll hang back to sniping, remember? Besides, it's only lunch,} Garrus countered.
Saren closed his eyes while his mandibles flexed into a smile.
"All right, Vakarian," he asked, "where do you want to meet?"
{Glad to hear you accept. I'll send you the coordinates,} Garrus replied.
Once his omni-tool pinged, Saren took a few moments to read the coordinates on the map before he took a deep breath.
"Lawson," Saren called over, "if you're interested, Vakarian's invited us over for lunch."
Miranda took this chance to grab a pair of loafers from the shoe rack and slip them on. Once they stepped out of their apartment, they made their way through the wards and were called over by Brendan when they arrived at the pub.
"Vakarian, you don't look that bad for having taken an explosive to the face," Saren commented.
"It's not that bad," Garrus replied, "it just hurts to move it too much."
Miranda took a moment to examine the bandaged scar on Garrus's face before she tilted her head towards Robin.
"Well, I'm just anticipating what my dad would say when he finds out what my uncle did," Robin shrugged.
"It's not going to be easy. I was never particularly fond of him, but I'm still contemplating whether I'm willing to go through with it if the situation calls for killing him," Brendan added.
Saren nodded before he and Miranda sat down at the table Garrus, Brendan and Robin were at.
"So who else is coming?" Miranda asked.
"I know Nihlus offered to invite Desolas over here as well," Robin mentioned, tilting her head to the side.
"I've expended my own resources to this search," Garrus added, "so far, no such luck."
Miranda nodded while she picked up a menu.
"I understand," Miranda replied, "I'm just hoping my sister would be ok."
"Hopefully," Saren commented, "worst case scenario would be if they sold her off to batarians…if they'd even get friendly enough."
Brendan, Robin and Miranda all cringed at the thought.
"But, worries aside," Saren continued, "I took the liberties of inviting Nihlus and my brother to this meeting as well. Desolas wasn't the most agreeable, but I convinced him it was for the best."
Robin went back to reading her menu, confirming on what beverage she would want to order. Minutes later, Miranda spotted Nihlus and Desolas out of the corner of her eye as they stepped through the door.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Saren," Desolas mumbled as he approached the table, "I still stand by my position that this isn't a worthy cause."
While Desolas and Nihlus sat down at the table, Miranda and Desolas gave each other fierce stares.
"Anyways," Nihlus interrupted, "we might've found something, but it's still unconfirmed."
Brendan shifted his focus from his menu.
"Does it have something to do with Cerberus?" Brendan clamored.
"Unfortunately, it's much worse. The Illusive Man has plans on making an example of her," Desolas answered, "I'm not sure of their current stance, but I had managed to intercept bits of a transmission between him and the Shadow Broker."
"S-Shadow Broker?" Robin paused, "never heard of him."
"The kingpin of the criminal underworld," Garrus explained, "he mostly trades in information, has eyes and ears everywhere, only acts through tangents, and he will find something to hold over you."
"Oh, crud," Robin shuddered.
It didn't take long for their beverage orders to arrive, so everyone at the table made their lunch orders.
"So," Miranda asked, "could you specify the parts of the transmission?"
"All I could gather is that someone was hired to take down the Shadow Broker," Desolas answered.
"We know someone in that line of work," Garrus mentioned, thinking to Thane, "he could investigate further for us before we make our next move."
"I'll pass," Desolas declined, "I'm due to report back to the Primarch."
Desolas gave Miranda a hawklike stare.
"The rest of you can do whatever you want," Desolas continued.
Desolas got up and left without even bothering to order.
"Aaaaah, something else I missed?" Nihlus asked after a long hum, almost like a sight.
"Not much that I know of," Robin sighed.
Still, the remaining guests waited until their lunch orders finally arrived.
"Anyways, Thane Krios might know more on this matter," Garrus transitioned.
Miranda didn't need to ask for any clarification while she took a bite out of her shrimp. In between taking bites of her own lunch, Robin scrolled through the news feeds in her omni-tool, even if she didn't find anything that stood out at the moment.
"It's our best chance right now. Even if there'll be a delay, it's something," Brendan replied optimistically.
Garrus, Robin, Brendan, Nihlus, Saren and Miranda spent the rest of the lunch hour conversing about some of the bits of their lives, such as the days during Nihlus's Spectre training under Saren. At the end of their meal, Garrus sent a message to the assassin.
{Thane, we would like to discuss certain matters concerning your field. We'll be heading to Huerta to have my medical cybernetics checked. Meet us there.}
With that, Garrus, Saren, Robin, Brendan, Nihlus and Miranda stepped out of the pub and made their way to a cab station. Garrus, Robin and Brendan boarded one cab while Saren, Nihlus and Miranda hopped into another one. It didn't take long for the cabs to take off and hover through the station.
Upon arrival, the group waited in the lobby for Garrus to finish his check up and for Thane to arrive. All of them had been otherwise silent until Thane arrived with Liara beside him.
"I made it here as quickly as possible," Thane said, "what seems to be amiss?"
"We might have some clues on Oriana's whereabouts," Brendan explained.
"It mostly revolves around the Shadow Broker," Saren added, "there've been plenty vying for his position, and my brother Desolas had received word that yet another gun had been sent after him recently. Would you know more and could you confirm?"
Thane nodded.
"Unfortunately, I too have heard of this rumor, and I know who the hired man is, all too conveniently," Thane explained somberly.
Robin's eyes glistened with concern, so she placed her hand on Thane's shoulder.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"The man who was sent is named Kolyat," Thane answered, avoiding eye contact, "he's…my estranged son. I've wanted to reconnect, but I've also been procrastinating out of shame."
Robin's face lit up.
"Really?!" Robin exclaimed, "I had no idea you had a child!"
"I still keep tabs on him," Thane replied, "he's a young adult by now."
"Looks to be the opening we needed," Nihlus commented.
Robin and Brendan nodded in agreement. Garrus returned to the lobby seconds after the revelation.
"Hello, Thane. What's the plan?"
"The hired assassin is Thane's long-lost kid," Saren summarized, "we've come to the conclusion of piggypacking on his job to get at the Shadow Broker. If that's alright."
"It's about time I speak with him," Thane replied, "he's currently on Illium, but he won't remain for much longer."
Not wanting to waste anymore time, Saren led Garrus, Robin, Brendan, Miranda, Nihlus, Thane and Liara out of the hospital.
"I presume we'll be going in the Normandy?" Brendan asked.
Garrus and Saren nodded.
"Vakarian's crew is still on shore leave," Saren replied, "hopefully, you won't mind?"
"Sure, why not?" Robin chirped.
After the Normandy left the Citadel docks, the group met in the briefing room with Saren leading the conversation.
"I'm not sure if the rest of you've been to Illium enough, but Nihlus and I've been there enough to know what it's like," Saren began, "Illium, though part of the Asari Republics, is basically Omega Station with a concentration on financial crime and a fresher coat of paint."
"And I thought Aria's strip club felt creepy," Robin couldn't help but shudder.
"Basically, you take the wrong turn, and you'll be drugged, dragged off, and easily find yourself in chains when you wake up," Nihlus explained.
"It's a planet for the wicked," Thane commented, "exercise extreme caution."
Robin cringed and embraced herself to Garrus, not wanting to imagine the possible terrible outcomes that could befall her or her friends.
"Then why would refugees head over there?" she whispered.
"It's deep in Terminus Space and looks pretty. That's all," Garrus hummed with dismay.
Garrus stroked Robin's head in an attempt to soothe her.
"Unfortunately, if those refugees have fallen for the traps Illium has to offer, there's little we can do for them now. They could be anywhere by this point," Saren reminded, "it's a job for another day."
Brendan sighed while he placed his hand behind his head and paced back and forth.
"Dammit, those poor bastards," Brendan grumbled, "anyways, what are we going up against if we really are considering taking down the Shadow Broker? Because by the sound of him, he's not giving Oriana back willingly."
"As stated earlier, he keeps a big watch on everything, and has plenty of control over criminal syndicates and individuals. Think of him as the modern equivalent of your Al Capone," Saren answered, "unfortunately, I myself am also guilty of approaching the Shadow Broker for leads."
Miranda gave Saren an intense stare before she grasped his wrist with her hand, catching his attention.
"Will he still listen to you if you persuade him?" Miranda asked.
"He's been thorough about repaying favors, but it might be worth a shot," Saren responded as he crossed his arms, "for all I know, he has no interest in Oriana and hence views her as worth very little."
Miranda felt a sense of relief, even if it was small, while she let go of Saren's wrist.
{Commander,} the pilot informed over the intercom, {we're out of the Mass Relay and we're approaching Illium. ETA forty five minutes.}
"Know any contacts on Illium?" Brendan asked, turning to Saren.
"I know a few. Last time I checked, they were alive and active."
"We'll need the help we can get," Brendan acknowledged.
The team geared up and returned to the bridge to watch them enter a trading port in the city of Nos Astra. It didn't have the rounded structures of Thessia and more resembled a more Earthly metropolis with asari tech implemented. Walking down the loading dock, an asari and two mechs walked out to greet them.
"Greetings, commander. Welcome to Nos Astra. Now I must alert you that you will have to pay a docking fee before you leave."
Before Brendan could say a word, Saren stepped forward.
"Don't worry, I've got this," Saren assured Brendan.
Saren returned his focus to the asari.
"Hello, I'm Saren Arterius, and I have set up an account here before," Saren requested, "simply bill the fees to me, the others are mostly new here."
The asari paused for a moment before she nodded.
"As you were, Spectre," she replied.
Exiting quickly through customs, the group entered an open marketplace that resembled a stock exchange. On the levels above and below were bustling crowds of people going about their business. Out in the open, overlooking the city beyond were traffic lanes of skycars traveling through the wide expanse.
"Pretty and all, I'll give it that," Nihlus commented.
"But it's still not a safe place for a honeymoon," Liara reminded.
"Yes, well, let's go. If we're fast, we won't have to worry about this for too long," Saren said, beckoning the others to follow.
Making their way through the crowded marketplace, the team approached a jewelry shop at the other side of the square.
"Right. This won't take me too long," Saren muttered to himself.
Saren stepped into the shop without hesitation. At the front counter, a quarian was finishing work for a customer before turning to the approaching Spectre.
"Ah! Welcome back Spectre Arterius! How may I be of service?" Gael'Saanna greeted.
"All is well. I wished to discuss matters concerning our good friend," Saren replied.
"Of course! This way."
The two walked behind the counter to the workshop. At the back, Gael closed the door behind them and opened his monitor.
"What will you need today?"
"I'm not entirely positive yet, but had Cerberus come through here earlier?" Saren pressed.
Gael blinked with surprise.
"They had. I didn't know you were aware. I'm still in shock the local officials let them operate publicly."
"Unfortunately. I'm also aware that they had recently traded a specific good with the Shadow Broker. I need to know for an investigation," Saren informed cautiously.
"Of course, a specimen. It's especially rare."
Saren stroked his chin.
"I see. Well, what is the price for it?" Saren asked.
Saanna stopped typing for a moment.
"I'm afraid that I can't see that through," Gael declined.
"C'mon," the Spectre insisted with a friendly tone, "I'll even pay double what he paid."
"Let me rephrase that, Spectre. She's not for sale," the quarian repeated.
Saren was now growling with annoyance.
"Why not?" Saren demanded.
"Her sellers made her genetic uniqueness very well known. The Shadow Broker has future plans for her and will not be available for purchase."
"I see," Saren replied, straightening himself up, "what you've told me will be sufficient. Until next time, Gael."
He promptly left the shop to return to the others outside.
"Any luck yet?" Robin clamored.
"The Shadow Broker already has plans for Oriana," Saren reported.
In a matter of seconds, Miranda gasped in shock.
"No," she whispered.
"Nothing's set in stone yet, but if Oriana is walking out of his grasp in one piece, we've got to get moving," Saren repeated.
Without saying anything further, Saren led the rest of the squad farther through the city.
"For starters, we know she was brought here after Thessia," Saren started.
"So what's your plan?" Garrus asked.
"Find someone who knows," Saren suggested, "that last guy would've known as well, but he knows to resist. I know plenty of other contacts on this planet though, a few of whom are much more timid."
Robin nodded in agreement, eyes filled with determination.
"Maybe we'll have better luck this time around," she said.