Chapter Summary
Tea time in the Officer's den.
Chapter Notes:
Chapter Soundtrack: Madeon - Finale
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A ridiculously short Drell woman announced her presence at the door by launching herself at the disguised silver-and-peach Spectre, recognizing him through the cover with a cry of, "NIIIIIHHHHHHH YOURE NOT DEAAAAD!", that the neighbors two floors down probably heard. She had offered her name while wrapped, -literally wrapped-, around his torso: Riaz Tio'fore.
Just about everyone else visibly winced at her volume. If the Drell was anywhere in the building, or had planted listening devices nearby... well there went the green eyed torin's cover. Garrus closed the door quickly. They ended up spread across the living room of Garrus' apartment. It felt somewhat surreal to have so many ST&R agents stuffed inside the small space. Three Spectre Agents, and two Specialists.
A Salarian introduced himself with a shy bow and a soft, mellifluous voice. Specialist Korvis Tiin, the intelligence agent who had been working different angles to get the revenge kill order removed. He was a pale maroon color interrupted by beige spots, shoulders curled in with a permanent typist's slouch.
The other Specialist offered his name in a deep, deep rumble with a friendly nod. Ankhleas Tithe. His entire appearance was average; medium height, earthy brown coloration, common features, simple orange markings and matching eyes. The torin's steps were exceptionally quiet though, more of a glide then a walk.
Saren immediately took over the only chair, the one that sat at Garrus' breakfast bar. Considering it was on the other side of the kitchen counter, it seemed almost like a desk. His regal bearing only did him favor by adding to that, the final impression being an assortment of courtiers before a ruler.
The effect was somewhat spoiled by Nihlus hopping up on the counter near the door with Riaz in his lap. Korvis and Ankhleas sat on the couch angling themselves toward the kitchen. The C-Sec officer decided to take a lean against the hallway entrance.
"Korvis, if you would bring everyone up to speed on the current situation?"
"I would be happy to, Spectre Arterius. Might I know Officer Vakarian's clearance level before I begin?"
Saren turned his gaze to meet Garrus', the electric glow flickering as the lenses rotated in focus on him. For a moment the aloof Spectre held him captive with his eyes alone, and he could feel the rapid judgments being made. He returned it coolly, even as the long stare set his guts in stone. If the ST&R group thought they could have a secret meeting about Nihlus in his living room without him, he would have to clarify how much that wasn't happening. He didn't care to challenge Spectre authority at all, or Saren in particular, but... it was his damn house.
The silver and grey Spectre turned away.
"Level eight.", was all he said. Agent Tiin seemed to blink in surprise, but moved smoothly to carry on the conversation.
"Very good. To begin explaining the compl-"
"Hold on.", interrupted the orange eyed specialist. "Understand, I mean no offense, but how could a C-Sec Detective have earned an intel clearance level that high?"
Saren's mandibles pulled up ever-so-slightly in displeasure.
"If you should ever have need of an independent agent who can enter the Spectre Offices without a password, acquire data from the intel terminals, and leave again with no aid... Officer Vakarian could do so."
The entire room baring the speaker turned to stare at him, though Nihlus had a shit-eating grin on his face. The tiny Drell woman's grin wasn't much smaller.
"Ohhhhh well tha' makes it easy! Hard to keep a hacker like that outta data at all, innit?"
"Yes." The earthy toned specialist nodded, and attention returned to the softly spoken Salarian. Garrus wished he knew what 'level eight' meant, and hoped that no one asked him to hack the Spectre Office door in the middle of the night just to see if he could do it again.
"Oh, Officer Vakarian, you're the one who found that storage based error in the security network?"
"Ahh, yeah. I... had occasion to visit the ST&R office in the middle of the night, and needed to get back out. Saren's emergency code got me in, but I... wanted to go home and sleep afterward."
"Understandable. Thank you for finding the error, and explaining it so that the loophole could be fixed. Allow me to continue on our main topic, then? To begin explaining the complication, I need to delve into a bit of politics. After the target, The Luminous Azynder, was taken out we acquired aggression from his six daughters, the Slave Baron Orgorosh whom he was selling people to, and his two political allies; The Luminous Derrindray, and the Disciple of the Light Ifrazyl. Orgorosh was refusing to take a more then generous bribe, and was instead eliminated as well. The Luminous Derrindray has been black mailed into dropping the issue using evidence of misuse of public funding. The remaining trouble comes from the six daughters and Ifrazyl. At this time, Ifrazyl is trying to find matches for his two most recently born sons, and the daughters have agreed to wed the youngest two among them in exchange for the assurance of Spectre Kyrik's death."
"Uhh, so how is it that having babies for a Hanar prince is worth ending me? It doesn't sound like that much trouble."
"You would normally by correct Spectre Kyrik, but Ifrazyl is old, and his two youngest sons were conceived too late in life. As you might know, Hanar generally have six to eight children at a time. These two are the only surviving of that batch, and are mentally hindered."
"Ooooh, so a life married to a mentally retarded prince is the deal."
"In essence, yes. For two of them. Our current options are currently as follows; convince the daughters to revoke the deal, convince the youngest two to renenge on their agreement and hope their older sisters are not so willing, have freely offered brides presented to Ifrazyl for his sons, eliminate the sons which would likely exacerbate the situation, or convince the Disciple of the Light through other means that the daughters aren't worth the expenditure of resources."
"Well, shit. What have you tried already?"
"We have attempted dealing with the younger two females, and the daughters in general. They are very upset and refuse, though we have perhaps simply not found the correct bribe. Ifrazyl offered to end the deal in exchange for Prothean artifacts that we don't have the ability to give. I did check with the Council about that. On that note, Spectre Kyrik, Councilor Tevos sends you her regret that their above-board options were no help, and wishes you good luck.
"Awwww Mommy loves me! You hear that Riaz? I'm the favorite. I can't wait to tell Tela." Spectre Tio'fore laughed merrily, as apparently it was some sort of inside joke that she got a kick out of.
Garrus raised his hand as a request to speak. Saren turned to him and rumbled an assent.
"So, Specialist Korvis, these... Hanar princes?"
"Technically they are not royalty, simply popular social media figures."
"Right, well, I know family is a big deal to Hanar... are they fertile?"
"One moment. Allow me to check their medical records... … Yes, they both appear to be so."
"Would the mental disorder transfer to offspring?"
"No, it would not. It is unique to the developmental problems caused by late in life reproduction, and is separate from genetically passable causes of mental retardation."
"Alright. Hmmm. My thought is that if there was something wrong with their ability to reproduce, then the daughters' interest would die a quick death. It might not end their dealing, but it could take the Compact as a resource out of the matter. Is there anyway to induce them with a passable disease, get them sick, have blood work done, and then leak it to the public?"
The room was silent for a moment as they considered how viable a plan like that would be. It was Spectre Tio'fore who first chimed in.
"That's a tricksey idea there Officer. It might be doable if we can catch them boys away from the bulk of their security, preferably on land. Could hit 'em with a disolvable dart full 'o some pathogens that would make 'em go to the hospital, and an auto-immune disease that would transfer ta any babes. Itsa subtle idea, and might only stall, but the extra-glowy jellie wouldna want sick grand kids to sap the bank accounts either. The girls would hafta come up with a different buy off for a pet assassin."
"Shame to make the two boys ill though. Sounds like they've had a hard life as is. Anyone have other ideas?"
"I might.", came in Specialist Tithe. "A reversal. The daughters are the trouble makers who will not let the matter sit, let the consequences be theirs. Release compounds in their home to make all of them sterile."
Saren hummed approval.
"It would make an excellent last warning before we simple kill the lot of them and be done with the matter. Too many council resources are being wasted on their need for revenge. I find myself unwilling to allow it to continue. I have a compound recipe that will do nicely with some small modifications. Sterility, and a hospital worthy illness that will draw attention to it. Tio'fore, will yourself and Specialist Tithe be able to join me aboard the Daedalus for a trip to Kahje? I can alter the formula needed en route, if you are able to develop a delivery method?"
"Sure thing Arterius! I can make a water bomb, limited range dispersion, colorless even. Drop it off at night, yeah? Hide it somewhere sneaky-like, they'll never know how it happened."
"Awww you guys are doing explosives underwater without me?" Nihlus appeared honestly distraught that he would miss it. The Drell woman patted him on the cheek with an understanding smile.
A few more details were worked out while Garrus leaned quietly and watched. It was still surreal having a bunch of secret agents in his apartment planning political intrigue, sentient rights medical violations, and potential murder if the angry Hanar women didn't take their final hint. He was alright with it though, at least life was interesting.
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Chapter End Notes
[Author's Codex] The Government of Kahje A separation of church and state does not exist on Kahje. Population groups range from as small as thirty people, to half a million and up, and are called 'Blooms'. Some of these population centers are more or less religious, and exact opinions of the spirituality of the Enkindlers varies from 'Wise Elders' to 'Demi-gods' in level of divinity. The leaders of each bloom are called 'Luminous Ones', and when they and their entourage are not engaged in religious works, they run each city much as a mayor would. The highest tiers of the Illuminated Primacy are the fourteen Disciples of the Light, the Luminous of the fourteen largest city-groups. These fourteen act as a council for the Hanar people, and are responsible for their military, colonial projects, and law crafting. Though it should be noted that there are only a few thousand words in the Primacy's federal level law book, as each bloom is given a great deal of leave to govern themselves. [Author's Codex] Hanar Worship of the 'Enkindlers' The most prevalent religion of the Hanar people is Prothean worship. Credited with giving the Hanar sentience and language. The 18th day of the 8th month each year marks the beginning of the 'First Cresting Bloom', a 13 day festival celebrating this gift of language to the people of Kahje. The veneration of the long-lost species has evolved to include a spiritual aspect. An Enkindled Hanar would expect to join the ascended Protheans in the next plane of existence after mortal death. The 'Ascension' of the Enkindlers circa 48,000 BCE being the commonly accepted reason for their current absence from the galaxy. The Hanar habit of living and working in medium-large population batches called 'Blooms' has carried over to their religion, forming a myriad of church groups that each practice a variance of the religion. In general terms, each group is lead by a 'Luminous One', who has anywhere between two to twenty 'All-Bright Ones', and at least one 'Seeking Ember'. The Embers of a community will spend time searching for and procuring relics of the Enkindlers, transporting these remnants to museums and temples for veneration and protection. The Luminous will interpret the artifacts found, ruminate on the will of the Protheans, and record their findings. The All-Brights of a city will then distribute the interpretations to the general population, and collect donations for future good works. These funds are used to ensure the protection of Enkindler ruins, to acquire new relics, and to further spread the 'Light of the Enkindlers' to other species.
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