THE CALL CAME THROUGH with a haze of electronic snow, ghostly overlaps of other calls swirling through the digital blizzard. It was fortunate the buoy network was working at all with large segments of it still trashed and silent. It was almost like the early days of spaceflight. Shizuka knew she likely didn't have much time. At the other end of her call the familiar features of Katherine Jha finally materialized.

"There you are!" Jha said as a hello. "I was just about to sell this wreck and retire."

Shizuka was glad to see friendly face of her engineer and second-in-command. Behind Katie, Eisenhauer and Kensai gave her short waves.

"Sell her? We just got her back!" Kensai exclaimed, winking at Eisenhauer who just rolled his eyes.

"What do you mean, 'just got her back'?" Shizuka inquired.

"What he means is that the Alliance impounded and crawled over her for two days! They just saw fit to releasing her back to us this morning." Eisenhauer told her, his southern North Am-accented voice drawling in a bored tone. "We've been making sure they didn't do anything stupid to her."

"Why would they…? Sorry, I didn't know. I'll yell at someone later."

"I could be wrong," Kensai interjected. "But that judder in her port stabilizers we could never get rid of? I'd swear it's gone. Same with that secondary power interrupter. No more snappity-snap when it kicks in."

"Why would the Alliance impound the Ananse just to repair her? That makes absolutely no sense." Shizuka frowned. "Unless Hackett…" She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. You sure they're fixed?"

"Sure looks that way."

"To hell with it. Count your blessings." She smiled a knowing smile. "But check everything anyway."

"So we've been," Jha told her. "How's business on your end?"

"Depends on who you ask."

Jha looked hesitant then decided and said it anyway.

"Bit of a bombshell, Boss."

"I know. It just wasn't important."

"I mean, hell, everyone was in the War but you an N7? We knew you were ex-something but that was kind of a big revelation."

"I was what I was and I am what I am. It is and it isn't."

Jha nodded and changed the subject.

"That was the vaguest 'don't ask', I've ever heard. Suit yourself. Well, business on our end is nuts. With the Reapers gone… "

She eyed Shizuka expectantly.

"Don't look at me. No one here knows what's going on either."

Jha just nodded again and continued.

"It's just that everything seems to be …off, somehow. You'd think with the bastards gone things would calm down, except we got more military ships in damn-near every lane now and they're checking everybody."

"For what?"

"They won't say. We've been boarded five times in the last two days and that was just on our routine maintenance run from Kirby Station to Wreckless Depot, by the same ship. A cruiser no less. I didn't know whether to be flattered or outraged. 'Routine' they call it. Bullshit, I call it."

"What are you hearing?"

"Well, you know how c-shippers like to talk. The odd thing is that at least five mid-level cargo storage depots have been 'impounded' by the Alliance – whatever that's supposed to mean - and Ranter's, Teak's Crossroads and Yusef's Double Barrel have all been closed."

"Closed? I thought you said business was 'nuts'?"

"It is. That's the really weird part. All blacked-out, too." Jha paused and Eisenhauer nodded behind her. "Jackhammer Greene's been telling anyone who'll listen that it's some kind of leftover Reaper plague."

"Greene's a cretin. That's one damned specific plague."

"Yeah, well, I didn't say anyone believed him. But I know one of the engineers on the Whiskey Porter says the Alliance is treating it like one." A pause. "I know it's probably hush-hush, hyper-secret and all that, but can you tell us anything?"

"Even I don't know what the hell's going on yet, so don't feel too bad." She sighed. "Frankly, I'd rather be back with you guys."

"Well, we're making money for you, so at least there's that. Your, uhm… father called looking for you this morning."

Shizuka frowned and sat back. Hermes Lancaster Shizuka, the CEO of the Shizuka Shipping Conglomerate. Owner of one hundred billion credits and counting. Shizuka had not spoken to him in almost a year. 'Wherever you need it to be, that's where you'll find it,' ran the latest slogan. Ugh.

"What did he want?"

"He didn't say much when I told him you weren't here. Just 'the company needs her, by thunder!' and for you to 'not be so dam-ned foolish!', unquote." She sent her captain a lopsided grin. "Also, do you know anyone named Silas Gaumont?"

Shizuka slapped a hand to her forehead. Silas Gaumont, son of Gaumont Container Services magnate Miles Gaumont, thick-as-thieves with her father and likewise bulging at the seams with more wealth than taste or brains.

"Oh, for - ! Why?"

"Something about 'the boy's breedin' age!' I refused to inquire further." Behind her the boys were shaking with silent laughter. "He said he'll call back when you have sense."

"In that case, I guess I'll never hear from him again. Especially if it means coming to his kind of 'sense'."

"He made another offer to buy us out."

"Damn generous one," Eisenhauer added. "Double this time."

"Did you take it?" Shizuka asked with a faint smile. Eisenhauer shrugged.

"Naw. When you're this handsome you don't need money."

Shizuka laughed and felt better for it.

"I've really missed you guys. I honestly don't know what to tell you, other than ignore my father, keep the ship in one piece and keep doing that money-making thing you mentioned."

"There was one thing…" Jha began. "I'm not really sure if it's worth mentioning, it was just too odd."

"I don't have all day on this thing, Katie. Spill it."

Jha glanced back at her partners, both of whom shrugged almost simultaneously.

"You know Jonas Mariner of the Sam Twain…"

"I know you have a serious lust-on for the man, if that's where you're going with this…" Shizuka teased.

"Besides that," Jha replied with a sour look. "He said that the Captain of the Chopin In The Sand was some ex-Spec-ops guy that knew a guy in the N7 Provost Council who's saying that the Alliance is mobilizing their whole host of N7's – and the Council is doing the same with the Spectres."

"Rumours." Dismissive and skeptical. Shizuka didn't doubt it but one never knew who was listening in.

"You sure about that, Captain Shizuka, once-on-reserve N7, survivor of Torfan?"

"You know better than this, Katie."

"I know, I know, but it's unsettling. Sorry for prying, but we deserve to know who we're working for – don't we?"

Shizuka sighed.

"I wasn't keeping secrets so much. It's a part of my life I just don't want to revisit. Why would I?"

"They say Shepard's missing," Kensai said. "It's starting to climb through the 'Nets. They're saying he's dead."

"I don't know where Shepard is."

"You were on his team on Torfan." Jha said with a faint trace of awe in her voice. They'd all been revaluating their Captain in her absence, it seemed.

"That didn't make us friends. It's not like we kept in touch. He was out saving the Galaxy, remember? Didn't have time for the rest of us." Shizuka's eyes went cold. "Way back when, he was too busy spending our lives."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to bring up any bad memories…"

'No, you didn't. I honestly can't tell you anything. I was just another back-breaker on Torfan who was damned lucky to get off with a whole skin. As for good memories… well, those are something else. The rest you know. Now they think I can be of use out here." She smiled. "Crazy but true."

"Can you?"

"I don't know that yet, either. But I'll do what I have to."

"Right. We'll keep on and keep our heads down."

"That's a plan I approve of," Electronic noise began to crowd across Jha's image. "I think the signal's going, Katie…" Shizuka began just before it vanished completely. The AI informed her that buoys in that location were no longer reachable. Shizuka cursed silently.

"Annoying when that happens," came from behind her, the even tones of Winston Black as he stepped into the comm station. "You don't mind if I commandeer this station now, do you?"

Shizuka rose from her seat and waved him to it.

"I am apparently done."

Black nodded and stepped in.

"You look …relaxed. Not too bad off," she told him as he passed. "Settling in?" Black shrugged noncommittally.

"My injuries were minor and inconvenient." Black then sat and studied the comm station controls.

"I hear the palliative care here is first rate." Her voice and attitude were wry. Black sighed silently to himself. Did everyone need to make some comment on how he spent his time? She of all people had no right to be offended.

"It's excellent in every respect." He replied with only the slightest trace of annoyance in his voice. He owed explanations to no one. Coming from Flynn he could tolerate. Coming from Shizuka was another matter entirely.

"As long as you're comfortable. You are comfortable?"

"Very. Not really your concern. Is it?" His dark eyes fixed her with a steady gaze. "Is it?"

Shizuka returned the gaze and then dropped it.

"I suppose not."

"You suppose correctly." Black told her after a moment.

"And if I want it to be?" Testing him? Would she do that? Why would she do that?

"That would be out of character." Akilah smiled a slight smile at that, leaving Black to really wonder what was going on in her head. "I never take anything for granted, Akilah. Nor should you."

Shizuka was silent for a space. She seemed to be trying to figure something out.

"My father called me." She told him out of the blue.

"Did he?" Black was not a fan of the man.

"He keeps trying to buy me out and marry me off. Even in the middle of all this madness, if you can believe that."

"Akilah – I need to use this." Black indicated the comm array.

"Even today after everything he still thinks I'm incapable of…"

"Why not tell Flynn about it?" Black asked unexpectedly.

"I – what?" It was if Black had proposed marriage himself just then.

"Flynn. Perhaps you can ask him." Black told her while watching her closely. "Flynn is staying, after all."

Shizuka regained her composure with alacrity. She glared at him for a long moment. Her eyes flashed.

"Your doing."

"My doing. He might be angry when he finally realizes but I have a feeling he won't hold it against me."

"I might."

"We've been through this before." He turned away. "You've only ever heard what you wanted to hear."

"That's not true!"

"It is. You've been mired in this… fantasy you've built for yourself with Flynn as your villain." She saw his fist clench on the console. "Easier to blame him than believe Grimaldi could be…"

"You don't know anything!" She shouted at him. "You weren't there!"

Black stood and stepped very close, his voice cold, calm and cruel.

"I was. I know exactly what happened and I know why. I know."

Her pupils dilated, Akilah stepped back, those deadly fists bunched and cocked and Black knew he was walking the edge of a very sharp razor.

"I know you are an intelligent, able woman. We need you in the here and now and I have to tell you - you have been selfish and unjust. Vaughn Grimaldi was a hero, but he was also a crass and manipulative opportunist. Your naïveté – your blindness for not seeing him for what he truly was has ruined you. You are living in the past with empty secrets you will not face and you desperately need to wake up!"

Shizuka's pupils vanished and colour drained from her face. Black knew in that second that he'd struck home. He had no time to celebrate it. Her fist hit him like a ball of steel and Black's world went red-black with a million winking stars. He lay there dazed and could only listen.

"You know nothing." Her voice was hoarse with emotion. She backed off a step then looked at his face and her fist as if seeing both for the first time. Shizuka dropped her hand and released the fist, voice dripping with scorn. "You didn't know him and you didn't know Flynn and it sure as hell looks like you never knew me." She stepped to the door. "I think it's past time to change that. I'm going to show you what Flynn really was and really is."

Black listened to her stamp from the room before pulling himself to his feet. A ginger inspection of his teeth gave him relief that all were still seated in his jawbone, which felt like it had been moved a metre to the left. Even though he'd been braced for it, the blow had come as a surprise, fast and solid enough to knock him down and nearly out. He suddenly realized she'd pulled it at the very last moment and thanked her silently in his head, his respect for her climbing another notch. He would apologize later, provided of course neither of his old comrades killed him for his interference.

"Close and lock," he ordered the computer and the door promptly slid shut. When it did, Black contemplated it for a moment then let out a long sigh and drew his hand through his hair, seating himself painfully in the chair. He didn't have much time. Miranda's meeting was in a few minutes. He keyed in the call-codes for Rannoch.

"This is quarian First Fleet Defence Headquarters, how may I help you?"

"Could you send some analgesic?" Black told him with a half-smile, his face not cooperating. "I have such a headache."

"I'm sorry?"

"Nevermind. I need to speak with Field Captain Kal'Reegar Nar Rannoch, clearance code Evet-evet-nefti-evet-neen." The clerk blinked to hear quarian numbers in quarian.

"Fleet Commander Kal'Reegar Nar Rannoch is currently on the Citadel."

"Of course he is," Black muttered, his jaw beginning to throb. "Relay this – Black in situ, events proceeding with usual delays. Current conditions not machine-based and as yet undetermined. He'll understand it. That needs to go immediately."

"Acknowledged." The clerk paused a moment. "Are you all right, sir?"

Black rubbed his jaw carefully.

"What's your name?"

"Carvi Vas Eternal Day Nar Rannoch, sir."

"Are you married?"

"Engaged."

"If you don't mind a piece of unsolicited advice? Women are dangerous."

"As evidenced, sir?"

"Yes. I advise you stay back at least two metres at all times."

"Thank you sir, I'll take it under advisement."

"You do that. Black out."

Black rose as the screen went dark. The chronometer showed he had five minutes before the meeting. Time to pay Hoshiko-san a quick visit.

He didn't want to be late for the show.


MIRANDA ENTERED to see her whole crew seated at the conference table, all save Asha'Rhaal, in her usual place near the main display. Ellie and Riley were engaged in some spirited mock arguing, Jamilah looked bleary-eyed and stared into a hot cup of coffee, the rest in their usual seats. To her mild surprise, Miranda saw Flynn enter through the other door, to lean against the far wall with arms crossed and a smirk on his face.

This should go well, Miranda sighed to herself, wishing she'd just handed out reports instead. The arrival of Himgi made her realize she was still standing in the door.

"Hey," the asari pilot said as she entered. She stopped, leaned in a bit and sniffed. "That's new. Very nice. Is it asari?"

Miranda looked vaguely discomfited.

"No."

"Oh, never thought you the type."

"I'm not," she said, waving Himgi on. "Can we get on with this please?" Himgi gave her an odd look and a slight shrug and found her place at the table. A moment after that, Shizuka stepped in then saw Flynn and stopped.

This should really go well, Miranda thought, her once-banished headache uttering vague threats. There were bigger things at stake here and she gathered herself then made for her own chair.

"The situation as stands," Miranda began, nodding to Asha, who activated the screen. "We should reach the Shadow Broker's in two hours. We've been given a 'pass'. Sorry, Ilola."

The gunnery chief waved it off. Next to her, Himgi leaned in with a slight smile.

"I'd also like it if you would refrain from killing me. I was just following orders when I told Juneau to page Black."

Jamilah chuckled.

"Sorry, I was caught in the moment."

"Oh, understandable. Tensions rise on long voyages."

"Cut it out…!"

Black and Hoshiko entered just then. Hoshiko took her usual seat and Black stopped to stand in a corner across from Flynn. He appeared to have a dark bruise on his face.

"Everything all right?" Miranda inquired to him but he just waved it off.

"It's nothing. Please, continue." Flynn glanced over, saw it and then looked at Shizuka. Black shrugged and said nothing further.

"All right… As I said, we're currently enroute to Ilmnos. Alliance fleet reports are beginning to show unusual signs of…"

"Excuse me," a clearly agitated Shizuka interrupted. As she did, Black stepped into a shadowed corner.

"Yes? What is it?" Miranda asked, almost certain she didn't want to know. Shizuka thrust a finger at Flynn and he just nodded to himself, not remotely surprised.

"I refuse to participate as long as he remains aboard. I demand you drop me at the next Alliance depot or outpost."

"We've been over this before." Miranda tried to rein in her exasperation. Did every N7 need to act like a spoiled child? "Major Flynn is now under contract. As are you. This ship is going to Ilmnos, period. I don't have time for this nonsense. You two will simply have to learn to agree to disagree and work together for the duration of this mission!" She sent a hard glare at Shizuka. "Are you a professional or not?"

Shizuka returned that hard gaze with a disdainful one of her own.

"As I'm a consultant," Shizuka reminded the haughty woman before her. "…it my professional opinion that that man will be nothing more than a detriment to this mission and its goals."

Miranda shifted her weight and crossed her arms.

"You have a reason for this opinion, of course?"

"I do. He's a mass murderer."