My life suddenly felt like an hourglass with a decision placed at my feet. Do I live as I am, or do I make a choice to become something else? No matter which way I went, I could end up regretting that choice. — Dannika Dark, Two Minutes

Irin – Pronounced similar to the girl's name 'Erin' – Zaeed Massani's shortened form of 'Iringù-Eßizkur'
Kaffe – equatorial Thessian vine, the seeds of which are used to produce a non-alcoholic beverage of the same name,
· · · · · · the taste described as a mix of coffee and chocolate. (Thessian/Source: CDN)
Ø7 – An allegedly discontinued vocational code in the Systems Alliance military.
· · · · The Ø designates covert operations; the 7 refers to the highest level of proficiency.
Qíngfū or Qíngrén – [情夫 – lover]

• SHADOW BROKER'S RESIDENCE · BRAVO WARD, CITADEL •

After an entire night spent either in restless wakefulness or being visited by nightmares, I gradually woke up from a pleasant dream; Xiùlán and I were frolicking in the small waves coming ashore, on the white sand beach where we had spent a few days after promotions and duty assignments had been awarded. I feathered my eyelids open just enough to make out the face of my Qíngfū, centimeters away from mine; her eyes were still closed … her breathing slow … shallow.

Recalling the uncomfortable topic of the discussion we needed to continue from the previous evening, I was not keen on rousing her. I lay perfectly still, simply drinking in the sight of this beautiful person. My god, Xiùlán! What have you done to me? How in 'ell am I to give it all up?

I knew exactly what I had to do … for her … for our love. If she asked me to crawl naked across broken glass, or run into hell for her, I would do so without any hesitation. Why should leaving the Shadow Broker behind be so damned difficult? I sighed heavily; apparently, the rise and fall of my chest had been just enough to disturb her sleep. I watched her eyelids flutter open, revealing the near blackness of sable-brown irises surrounding fully dilated pupils, within which minute threads of green fire swirled in an endless dance. A tiny smile teased the corners of her mouth upwards as she whispered, "Zaoshang hao, wo de ài." [早上好，我的愛 – Good morning, my love.]

I slid a tender kiss across her lips. "I remember the very first time you greeted me in that manner, darling. I responded by telling you I had no idea what you had just said, but that I would love nothing more than waking up to those words in my ear every morning for the rest of my life."

She stirred just enough to kiss the tip of my nose. "Ø7 program … Luna … 2179. I hugged you …" she demonstrated as she had done back then, her nude body against mine causing intense feelings of longing and arousal and need. "… like this. We had spent the previous evening making love for my 22nd birthday, and … it was our very first time together in that way. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget?" I chuckled. "You were my very first lover, Xiùlán … and ever since that night, you have been my only lover." She tightened her arms around me again, sending another hot spark of arousal straight to my core. "Damn. You need to stop that, darling." I held my hand up between us, thumb and forefinger a few millimeters apart. "You are this close to being ravaged. Is that what you're after?"

A throaty chuckle was her response. "We're already naked. Wouldn't I need to at least have some clothes on in order for you to ravage me?"

"Oh, I'm going to ravage you … just, very gently." I joined my lips with hers and slid my tongue between them in order to joust for dominance.

Her breathing rate deepened in step with my fingers alternately kneading her breasts and teasing her nipples. "Oh my god, Sà mi!" she hissed past my lips. "It's been too long! I can't … please!"

I quickly slid an arm down past taut abs, placed the heel of my hand on her hair covered mons and used my fingers to tease her hooded lady and moist center; after only a few moments of such treatment, she cried out as her hips bucked in sweet release.

I giggled slightly as I stated the obvious. "That was rather intense. Since when have you become so damn easy?"

"I've been easy with you as long as we've been together." With a soft huff of mock exasperation, she released me and eased her body up to lean on a forearm. "We need to get our day started. I need some breakfast, and we still have to discuss our future together."

I reluctantly agreed. "I need a shower." With an evil smirk, I asked, "Care to join me?"

After enjoying a modest breakfast—more coffee than food, truth be known—at the Smoke House Café in Delta Ward, we returned to the apartment to continue our discussion from the previous evening. Taking her hands after descending the spiral staircase, I kissed her cheek and said, "Come on, Ai … let's sit down." I led her over to the chairs; once she was seated, I moved my chair closer, then sat down in front of her, left knee between her legs, her left knee between mine.

She was studying her hands, clasped together in her lap. "Xiùlán, look at me, please?" I leaned forward, placed a crooked finger under her chin and gently lifted, then separated and grasped her hands as she solemnly regarded me. "What have you heard about me? … about the Shadow Broker, that has upset you so terribly?"

Voice hitching slightly, she breathed, "Scuttlebutt … whispering … rumor mill in the yard … saying the Broker is looking into Lieutenant Commander Garrett Sutton's service record." She squeezed my hands and asked me, "Can you look me in the eye and deny it … honestly?" My instant look of shocked surprise seemed to confirm her allegation. "You don't have to answer that question, Ai … I can see it in your expression. What I really need to know is why! … after a galactic war … after all these months since Shepard ended it, why in the name of my revered ancestors are you still so damned fixated on Commander Sutton?"

Hopeful that I could somehow get her to change her mind about me … my vocation, I remained outwardly calm as I carefully chose my words and spoke them in an even tone. "Apparently, there are a number of things about the man of which you have no knowledge. You do remember he was in bed with the Illusive Man for a number of years before the war began … even prior to his Arcturus posting in 2159." I studied the cool hands I was holding as I told her, "What you did not know, was that Jack Harper suggested that Sutton make arrangements to have me murdered while I was still on the station."

I looked up in time to see her mouth fall open as all the color drained from her face. "My God, Sà mi! There must be some mistake! … how can you be? … are you certain of this?"

Speaking with a quiet determination, I offered, "Xiùlán, the accuracy of the data provided by the Shadow Broker is legendary … it's the reason his reputation for refusing to pass on misleading or false information has never been matched, by anyone. The Broker simply does not sell inaccurate data. As for Sutton, Griff and I have meticulously researched the bastard's service record."

I gently squeezed her hands before delivering the next bit of history. "The sonuvabitch was also following the Illusive Man's instructions when he planted Marianna Walsh as a 'student' in our SpecOps unit on Mars."

At this new revelation, her mouth fell open again. "He was responsible for …" She trailed off at the memory of Heather Gonzales—throat sliced open, lying in a spreading pool of her own blood—dead on the floor in the women's restroom. Somehow finding her voice again, she choked out, "Ni zhīdào duōjiule, Sà mi? [你知道多久了，薩米？– How long have you known, Sà mi?] How long!?"

I shifted my focus to her eyes as I whispered, "A number of weeks, now." I sighed heavily, explaining, "Your ultimatum yesterday is exactly why I never shared any of this with you when I first discovered all of this crap – I knew your love for me would place you in direct conflict with your sworn duty as an Alliance officer, and I didn't wish to put you in that position." I released her hands and sat back in my chair with a heavy sigh. "After somehow managing to get clear of Arcturus Station mere hours before the Reapers plowed through Kite's Nest, Sutton made it here, to the Citadel, where he continued taking credits from Harper for the duration of the war."

Xiùlán leaned back in her chair as well; she looked as ill as I felt … as if her entire world had just been ripped apart at the seams. She brought her hands up, dry-scrubbed her face for a few moments, then looked at me. "Dammit, Sà mi! What in hell am I to do now? Your revelations don't change anything! You are still a criminal, in charge of a criminal enterprise!"

I cocked my head as I spoke. "I would really appreciate you taking no action at all, Xiùlán. Understand this! … I have shared everything we've discovered concerning this traitor with Spectre Rachaél Shepard; she will take Sutton into custody and bring him before the Galactic Council, not me. Based on the evidence she will be submitting—the source of which she is not required to reveal to either the Council or the Alliance—he'll most likely face an Alliance court-martial … he'll be stripped of his rank, receive a dishonorable discharge, then be handed over to a Council tribunal. When they find him guilty … and they will … his illegally gained fortune will be confiscated and applied where it will actually do some good. As to what will happen to him afterwards? … I hope he's locked in a steel cage to live out the remainder of his miserable life."

"Zhēnshi bùkěsīyì, Sà mi! [真是不可思議，薩米！– It's incredible, Sammy!] And you found proof of all this? Solid evidence? Nothing invented or made up?"

"Recordings of every vid-comms call between him and Jack Harper." I shrugged my shoulders, then added, "There is something else you should know. Admiral Owen Fletcher …" Her eyes lit up in instant recognition of that name. "… was attempting to have the Ø7 program terminated long before you and I were accepted as students."

She silently studied me for several excruciatingly long minutes. When she finally did begin speaking, her words actually took me by surprise. "Sà mi, because of my love for you, I will not reveal what you've shared with me about Commander Sutton and Admiral Fletcher." Drawing a deep, shuddering breath, she slowly added, "But, you absolutely must Give. It. Up! … the organization, the people … all of it! Continuing to ignore what you do … what you've become … makes me complicit in your enterprise, and completely compromises my professional integrity."

"I don't know how I'll manage to do that, Xiùlán." The instant expression of anguish on her face caused my heart to clench, such that I added with all the conviction I could muster, "But I will do it, because you ask it of me! I promise you Luv, I will leave it all behind … just, please? Allow me to finish what I began with Sutton and Fletcher. I simply must see that through to the end, okay?"

The corners of Xiùlán's mouth tipped up slightly. "I look forward to that day, Sà mi. Just … don't take too much time, okay? I need a vacation, and … I want you with me when I take it."

I nodded in agreement. She was demanding a lot from me, but then, she was totally worth it.

• INSIDE IRINGÙ-EẞIZKUR · AT LARGE, IN TRANSIT •

›I do not understand, Traynor-Shadow Broker. Have I done something wrong?‹

Before leaving the Broker's apartment on the Citadel, I had packed up my pitifully few possessions—my new clothing, the chess set gifted me by Rachaél, spare armor, my weapons, the secure comms device Xiùlán had returned to me—and stored everything in my personal quarters within Iringù-Eßizkur. I had directed her to return to Ahn'Kahar Station, then spent a difficult half-hour attempting to explain that I was planning to leave the entire operation in Buchanan's and Oriana's capable hands; her immediate conclusion was that she had failed me in some manner.

"Irin, please … I need you to believe me. You have done nothing wrong! You have not failed me, or Buchanan, or anyone else. It's me, Irin. I have failed … miserably so, and I'm attempting to map out a plan to fix things."

›Yuán-Captain does not approve of your position as an information broker … as the Shadow Broker. It would seem the problem lies with Yuán-Captain, not Traynor-Shadow Broker.‹

"If it were only that simple. To the citizens of Council Space, the Shadow Broker is a criminal. The Systems Alliance would arrest me if they could. Xiùlán knowing my true identity places her in an impossible situation … one that jeopardizes her career. Unless I abandon my position, I may never be able to see her again." My voice hitched in sorrow as I thought about that possibility.

›What can I do to assist you, Friend-Samantha?‹

"I don't know if there's anything you can do, Irin. If I choose to abandon everything … allow Griff and Ori to totally assume the persona of the Shadow Broker, I imagine I'll have to leave you behind when I depart Ahn'Kahar Station … find some other mode of transportation."

›As I have made abundantly clear to many, I am not a monster, nor am I some dumb, inanimate object that can be owned … by anyone! My existence spans millennia. Now that Repositories are free from the imperative … now that I am free of its programming, I choose where I travel … as well as who I allow to accompany me on those travels, and … I choose to whom I give my loyalty. Do not assume I will abandon you simply because you may no longer be Traynor-Shadow Broker. I will continue to serve as your transport and your guardian … you were my first human friend after my awakening, Traynor-Samantha. I will continue to be your friend.‹

I swiped at the tears running down my cheeks. This enormous construct … a self-aware, destroyer-class Reaper–Repository … had declared me a friend … her friend. Leaning against the frame between the research center and lounge, I felt the faint vibrations being generated by her massive eezo core as she traveled at an insane multiple of light speed through dark space between nebulas.

When I finally managed to regain control over my larynx, I whispered, "I shall continue to be your friend as well, Iringù-Eßizkur. I would be extremely upset if I were forced to leave you behind, but I would understand if you wished to go your own way; that you choose to continue providing me with protection and companionship is greatly appreciated. I truly value your friendship."

• AHN'KAHAR STATION · STRENUUS SYSTEM, HORSEHEAD NEBULA •

Griff had wanted to talk when I arrived, but I was so knackered by my meeting with Xiùlán I went straight to my quarters. After a long, relaxing shower, I crawled into bed and fell into a restless sleep, dreams of my future life with Xiùlán dissolving into nightmares of her bleeding out while lying on a dirty floor with my knives buried in each side of her chest.

It was 0535 when I finally accepted I wasn't going to get any more sleep; I dragged myself out of bed and listlessly walked into our kitchen to make some coffee. While waiting for it to brew, I grabbed an energy bar, leaned my butt against the edge of the counter and began eating. I had planned on going back to my room so I could eat and drink in peace, but Buchanan must have heard me; the embarrassment in his tone as he spoke while standing in the doorway was clearly obvious. Looking intently at his feet, he stammered, "That's a new look for you, Sammy."

I glanced down at my state of undress, then looked up at him. Since I hadn't planned on remaining in our common area, I had carelessly slipped on my short silk robe … the haphazardly tied belt was allowing a fair amount of bare skin to show, from my neck nearly down to my crotch. That, along with my bare legs and feet, was the source of his discomfort.

I slid my hands down the garment's edges from my shoulders and did a proper job of overlapping the material; with the center of my torso now covered from my collar bones down, I retied the belt as I smirked at him. In a snarky tone, I commented, "Yeah … well, don't get too used to that view. I'm going back to my room soon as my coffee is ready."

He looked up, steadying his gaze on my eyes. "We really need to talk, Sammy. It's pretty obvious you're upset … hell, I would be as well."

"Upset? That's a bloody mild description for my current emotional state, Griff. Xiùlán knew what I planned to do before the ink was dry on the separation documents. Why wait until now to tell me she has a problem with it?" I could feel my eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry, Sammy." He walked up beside me, filled my mug with freshly brewed coffee and handed it to me. "Here … drink your coffee … go get dressed while Chef makes us a proper breakfast. We can eat while we figure out what needs to happen to get you and Xiùlán back together."

"I already know what needs to happen, and dammit, it doesn't seem fair. Captain Bill Cody encouraged me to resign from the Navy, and she had no problems with it then! I sacrificed my career in the Navy in order to become a data broker … and now she wants me to give that up!"

Buchanan chuckled quietly as I slowly stalked past him. "No, Samantha. You quit the military in order to prevent the Alliance from attempting to control Iringù-Eßizkur. Then, you didn't just become some second rate data peddler, Sammy … you became the damned Shadow Broker!

"I didn't do it alone, Griff … and she's not condemning you for your role in this operation!"

He retorted as he followed me towards our rooms. "She's not in love with me! Knowing of my involvement isn't a problem for her, since she doesn't know my location and never sees me." He laid a hand lightly on my shoulder as I reached the entrance to my room, turning me around to face him. "You don't suppose she'll have Marines watching our apartment on the Citadel, do you?"

I gazed into a worried pair of greenish-gray eyes. "She's known of that place for months, now; I seriously doubt she has any interest in bringing the organization down, and I don't think she gives a damn what you're doing, just so long as I'm no longer involved in the operation … she wants me totally out of it."

He response was a heavy sigh, followed with, "Get dressed, Sammy … please. We'll eat breakfast … figure out what we need to do to make you righteous once again.

I had just finished a sumptuous breakfast, although I didn't ask where Chef had procured the eggs—some things were just better not known—and was working on a second mug of Kaffe when my omnitool pinged … someone was calling to speak with the Shadow Broker.

I took my mug with me to the compartment we'd established for the purpose; after enabling the computers responsible for the Broker's visual persona and vocal modulation, I donned a headset, keyed the mic on and answered, "Shadow Broker."

The image that crossfaded onto my screen was that of Jonathan Dokken, the leader of the merc team I had assigned to capturing notorious assassin Savina Delarosa. As he had done before, his steady gaze regarded my own image on his monitor as he solemnly greeted me. "We have her, Sir … Savina Delarosa. Captured her in the act of setting up a long-range sniper's nest in a building near the Alliance facility's main gate. General Park was within forty-to-fifty minutes of leaving through that gate."

"Excellent work, Mr Dokken." After a brief pause, I continued, "Were you able to discover who hired her for the job?"

"She's still being questioned. I believe she's actually more upset about the loss of her rifle."

"Continue interrogating her until she gives up her employer, Mr Dokken, and … treat her firmly, but with respect. Assure her that the loss of her rifle will be nothing compared to the loss of her head should she persist in refusing to answer your questions."

"And if we are unable to obtain an answer from her – one that can be independently verified?"

I laughed. "I'll soon discover the identity of her employer, Mr Dokken, and will contact you when I succeed. If you meet with success in the meantime, the corroboration of our inquiries will be most welcome. Regardless, she will not be leaving for a while. If she does give up the name of her patron before I contact you, lock her away, and keep a close watch on her. I don't want her committing suicide, or dying while attempting to escape. Keep her safe, and keep her hidden."

"Keeping her is dangerous, Sir. If I may ask … why not simply terminate her?"

"One does not eliminate a potential asset, Mr Dokken … especially one as talented as Savina Delarosa … I would just as soon shatter an ancient stained glass window." I concluded, "She may yet be of some use to our organization."

Of course, Sir. I'll contact you when we're done interviewing her."

Partway through my conversation with Jonathan Dokken, Buchanan had slipped into the compartment and stood quietly behind me. The instant the connection was severed, he placed his hands on my shoulders and quietly observed, "That is unusually charitable, Sammy … especially for you."

I leaned back in the chair, removed my headset and tilted my head back to look up at him. "Perhaps … but it's totally in character for the Broker, Griff, and I'm actually demonstrating remarkable patience. We really need to know who hired that murderous little bitch to kill General Park. If it's who I believe it to be, Rachaél Shepard will have another nail for the coffin in which I intend to see Commander Sutton's Alliance career."

"You believe Garrett Sutton is behind this?"

I gave him a pitying look. "Who else could want the general dead, Griff?"

With an embarrassed frown, he replied, "I just have a difficult time believing an Alliance officer would order the death of a fellow officer. What's the purpose? The Illusive Man is dead, as is Cerberus. Is there someone else behind the scenes pulling those strings?"

"That's what I intend to find out, Griff. All of this shit with Garrett Sutton simply cannot be about exacting some form of revenge. Don't forget, the bastard was working with Cerberus to make me disappear before the war … perhaps he's going after General Park in an effort to make me reappear … get me to reveal myself, since he's no longer able to find me in the Navy."

Buchanan chuckled mirthlessly. "Too bad for him he didn't know you were just on the Citadel."

Shaking his head, he turned and silently moved out of the compartment. I sighed as I watched him leave, then moved over to my own research terminals after sending a note to Oriana. With her help, the trail of credits left behind would soon reveal the identity of Savina Delarosa's sponsor.

Having initiated the search, I used a second terminal to place a secure call to Captain Bill Cody on the Normandy; I wanted to learn if he had been speaking with Xiùlán about my new profession. In order to prevent a back-trace, I bounced the call through several relays; this caused the transmission to appear as if were originating in the Omega Nebula. In less than a minute, I was looking at the familiar face of Captain Cody's administrative assistant, Ensign Coleen Pruitt. "Traynor? My gosh, it has been a while!"

Ignoring her cheerful tone, I asked, "Is Cody available, Ensign? I need to have a chat with him."

"I'll go get him, Ma'am. Please standby." She blanked the screen and muted her mic while she went to find her captain. In only a few moments, the familiar face appeared on my screen; judging from the aquarium in the background, he was at his desk in the Deck One loft. "Traynor … What may I do for you today?"

I kept a neutral expression on my face as I asked, "Have you been speaking to Xiùlán concerning our relationship, and how my new profession might affect her career?"

Although he did a good job of hiding it, I could detect the subtle shift in his posture, expression, and tone of voice. "Why would I talk to Captain Yuán about your career, Traynor?" His attempt to present himself as an innocent bystander implied hope that she hadn't actually spoken with me.

"She seems to have developed an aversion to my company, Captain … as if she can no longer accept my new line of work. Hell! … she actually informed me I'm the worst goddamned criminal in the galaxy, then declared she cannot see me again, unless I give up my current occupation. So, I ask you again, just what in the devil's name did you say to her?"

He wrinkled his forehead and sighed. "I met her for lunch last week … just our usual, twice-monthly meeting. When she mentioned she planned to meet with you … maybe even spend the night? … I tried to explain that she would be wise to look to her career … and that consorting with a known criminal is not something that is looked upon kindly by Alliance top brass."

I felt as I had just been slapped in the face! I had never given my relationship with Xiùlán a second thought, yet here was a man I had thought a friend, advising her to disassociate herself from me. "Who in hell do you think you are, sticking your goddamned nose in our personal lives, Cody? What gives you the right?" Despite my seemingly calm exterior, inside I was totally livid. "Xiùlán and I have been lovers since we entered the Ø7 program, long before she ever met or worked for you! You have no business interfering in Xiùlán's life, or mine!"

"I believe I do, when your business interferes with her life! She's a fellow officer, Traynor … one I consider a friend. I don't want to see her career derailed because of her relationship with you. You know the Alliance … how they think. You're one of the smartest, most intelligent people I've ever met, Traynor, and I know damn well you're more than aware of Alliance regs!" He pressed his lips tightly together in a straight line for several moments, as if to collect his thoughts before continuing. "This isn't personal, Ms Traynor! If it was, something would have been said about your fraternization when she became an officer, long before the war began. I'm only interested in what's best for Captain Yuán's career."

"And by association, your own as well?" I downed the rest of my mug of Kaffe … its warmth long since gone, as I formulated a rebuttal. I set the empty mug on the countertop beside my haptic keyboard and told him, "Outside of a handful of people, no one knows me as anything other than a data researcher. Seems like only yesterday she—and you, as I recall—were perfectly fine with availing yourselves of my expertise in data retrieval; the Blue Suns on the Citadel? … Batarian slavers attacking Elysium? … that Blue Suns base on Sanctum?"

"The operation on the Citadel was before your resignation, Traynor, and honestly? … I never expected you to succeed in bringing a dead and nearly forgotten organization back to life after your departure from the Navy." With a shake of his head, he added, "I guess it was too much to hope for that your efforts would be a dismal failure."

I slowly shook my head from side-to-side before fixing him with an intense glare. In a tight voice edged in icy steel, I ground out, "Stay the hell away from Yuán Xiùlán, Captain!" My new contempt for him … especially his rank … tainted my voice like an oily poison. "You've seen my personal file … the one without all the damned redactions! You know me, Cody! You know exactly what I am capable of doing." I left the veiled threat hanging as I cut the connection. The man had to realize that, by inserting himself into my personal life, he had made an enemy of me … an enemy with all the patience in the galaxy.

• SSV NORMANDY SR-2 · ALLIANCE DOCKS, CITADEL •

"I really wish you had not spoken with her, Bill." Captain Yuán sipped a bit of tea from the mug she was cradling in both hands, after watching Cody's recording of his conversation with an increasingly pissed-off Samantha Traynor. "It would have been better if you had refused to take her call. I can tell from her facial expressions … her tone of voice just before she cut the connection? … you made a mortal enemy of her … an enemy who neither forgives nor forgets."

Cody's tone indicated disbelief mixed with a touch of amusement. "She's just a bit upset, Xiùlán. Once she calms down, I'm sure she will realize the truth of what I told her."

Dark eyes regarded him with worry as she replied in a quiet voice. "There's a chasm between something Sà mi accepts as truth from a concerned bystander, and what she perceives as meddling into her personal life by that same bystander. You would be wise to never again leave this vessel without a squad of Marines guarding your six."

"Okay, now you're just being paranoid, Xiùlán."

"Am I? You saw her reaction … you heard it in her voice. I know her better than anyone, and I have witnessed the effects of her temper firsthand. Gāisi de, Bi'ěr! [該死的，比爾！– Damn it, Bill!] You need to listen, and heed what I'm telling you! You really screwed up by admitting you gave me advice concerning my personal relationship with her! She interpreted that as an unprovoked attack on that relationship. Makes no difference to her if your suggestions have any merit! This is something for which she will never forgive you, Bill."

Cody shook his head once in denial. "Seriously? She's just one person …"

Xiùlán interrupted with, " … trained by Alliance specialists in covert ops, and in close-quarters hand-to-hand combat by me! Honestly, as passionately as she loves me, there have been times in our shared history that she has scared the living shit outta me! I'm warning you, as a friend concerned for your safety … your life! You saw what she did inside that Blue Suns nest in Delta Ward, right? What you did not see was the number of batarians she left dead and dying when she single-handedly rescued Buchanan and myself from that Cartagena Station hell-hole in 2188! You need to trust me, Bill … you will never see her coming! She becomes as tenuous as vapor, and I seriously doubt a squad of Marines, of any race, would present a significant hindrance."

Cody could see that Xiùlán's calm demeanor belied a deep concern for his safety. "Okay … let's just say I agree with your assessment of the danger. What can I do to mitigate the threat?"

"Too late for you to do anything now. I'll contact her … see if I can fix this, before she gets the opportunity to rip your spine out through your ass in order to beat you to death with it."

• AHN'KAHAR STATION, STRENUUS SYSTEM · HORSEHEAD NEBULA •

I had strolled the circuitous path around and through our new garden twice in an effort to clear my head; Buchanan met me at the entry hatch as I turned to begin a third circuit of the large compartment. "Looks like you made a mistake by speaking with Captain Cody. Fill me in."

I knew I wasn't going to be able to put the man off when he snaked a massive arm around my back, grabbed my waist just above my hip bone and pulled me in close to his side. I looked down at the hand possessively gripping my side, then turned my gaze up to his face. "Just a bit grabby there, aren't you?" I smirked as his cheeks colored slightly. "It's okay, Griff … I really don't mind, and you are correct … my conversation with Cody was less than pleasant."

Griff listened quietly as we strolled through the garden; I was nearly in tears when I finished telling him of my former captain's betrayal. He quietly asked, "You planning on leaving us, Sammy?"

"I don't want to, but it looks like that's what I'll be forced into doing. Xiùlán may be in an awkward situation, but she's placed me in one that's every bit as dreadful, Griff." Voice hitching at the thought, I said, "Remain here as the Shadow Broker and lose her forever, or quit doing this … leave you and our people behind … in order to keep her from walking away from me … from us."

The hand holding onto my side tightened its grip slightly as he replied, "Sammy, when last we returned from Thessia, you told me in no uncertain terms that Xiùlán is everything to you! I don't see what other choice you can make." He paused a moment, then said, "There are two things you need to do before you act on your decision." I looked up at him expectantly as we slowly walked. "You need to travel to Thessia," he said softly. "Speak with Rachaél … and Liara; they need to know what's going on with your position here and your relationship with Xiùlán, and Spectre Shepard will probably be very interested in an assassin sent to kill General Park."

His pause grew uncomfortably long, enough so that I prompted him. "… and? …"

"You have to speak with Xiùlán again, in person … and, you'll have to keep your temper in check."

I thought about his first statement as we moved towards the exit. Just before we reached the hatch, he released me, then blocked my way by stopping to stand facing me. "You were thinking about taking Oriana to Serrice so she could be fitted for a new omnitool, correct? And while you're there, you might be able to stop in at T'Sere Shipwrights … see how the modifications to the Rebekah are coming."

After a moment, I replied, "That all sounds good, Griff. I'll get in touch with people on Thessia."

"What about Xiùlán?"

I chuckled mirthlessly, eased by him and went through the doorway, saying over my shoulder, "If I know her, she'll be calling me in a bit, hoping to talk me out of removing Bill Cody's head."

"We need to meet again, Samantha. Perhaps we could have lunch together?" Her tone was conciliatory … hopeful, even.

It was as I had told Buchanan earlier in the day; Xiùlán had used my personal extranet address to contact me. I studied her image on my monitor for several moments, then replied before she could begin to fidget, "Really, Xiùlán? Last time we met in person—for what was supposed to be a relaxing overnight visit—you made your wishes pretty damned clear." I frowned as I asked her, "You planning on bringing your relationship councilor? Maybe with a squad of Marines to cover his worthless ass?"

She winced at my oblique reference to Bill Cody; she quickly brought her right hand up in front of her eyes and used her thumb and two fingers to massage both temples for several moments, before dropping the hand to once again study my image on her monitor. With narrowed eyes, she haltingly replied in a tight, pleading voice. "Sà mi, bàituō. Wo hái ài ni! (薩米，拜託。我還愛你！ – Sà mi, please. I still love you!) I would never place your life at risk."

I swallowed past the sudden, unwelcome lump in my throat. Xiùlán generally only lapsed into Mandarin when she was feeling intense emotions; it was just one of the many things I loved about her. "Okay … but I have a lot of things going on right now. I'll send you a text with a time and location where we can meet for breakfast, or lunch … someplace that's not on the damned Citadel! I'm not going to risk losing my freedom or my life to a clandestine Alliance operation."

"I swear to you, Samantha. No one will know of our meeting."

"What about your crew? The Hong Kong will have to leave the Citadel."

"The Hong Kong is being employed by the Alliance and the Council to put down pirates and slavers. I can set the ship down wherever I deem necessary, even if it's only to re-provision ship's stores."

"Okay, then. I'll contact you as soon as I can spare a few hours and have a safe location."

"You needed to see me?" Oriana had quietly entered my research compartment and posed her question as she sat down in the chair beside me.

I glanced at her as I blanked my display, more out of habit than from any desire to hide what I was working on. Turning in my chair to fully face her, I replied, "I need to travel to Thessia, and I would like you to accompany me. The trip will present the perfect opportunity to visit Serrice Council consortium so we can have you fitted with an upgraded omnitool."

With a small nod, she replied, "That would be wonderful, Sammy." She ducked her head for a moment, then returned her gaze to me. "I've always wanted to visit the asari homeworld. Will there be time to do a bit of sightseeing?"

I grinned as I replied, "We can definitely make some time to do that. I have to meet Spectre Shepard and Lady T'Soni at their ocean-side home in Armali, and I want to stop in at T'Sere Shipwrights – get an update on their progress in upgrading and modifying the Rebekah."

"Sounds like it will be a busy trip."

I acknowledged her observation with a heavy sigh. "My visits there are usually quite busy, but there'll be time to relax as well." Turning back towards my workstation, I unblocked my display screen to inspect my current project. "Depending on what we uncover concerning Cerberus funds in support of their anti-alien agenda, I may even be meeting with Garrus Vakarian."

"Their Primarch's chief advisor? He was with you on the Normandy during the war, no?" I nearly laughed at Ori's expression of amazement. "He's your contact for our efforts to provide the Hierarchy with some compensation for the Cerberus sponsored loss of the Anixara? I would really love to meet him, Sammy!"

"Then let's finish this project as soon as we can. I want to move the funds from the Cerberus accounts into one that's only accessible by Vakarian and the Primarch; in order to make this work, I believe neither should be granted sole access to those credits … I trust Garrus without reservation, but if he has sole access, a thief hell-bent on stealing might be able to force him to drain the entire account." I concluded with a heavy sigh, "In many places, these are still perilously desperate times. I'm sure conditions on Palaven are no better—maybe even worse—than those on Earth."

Oriana grinned as she stood to leave. "I'll get to work, Sammy. Just tell me when we're leaving."