The world was neon.

Glowing signs cluttered the narrow pathways through the cement maze, and all around there was a general murmuring- a constant white noise of Japanese, Korean, Chinese- and Keelish. The area was packed with flea market shop setups and carts. Everything from bootleg movies, CDs, DVDs, and VR experiences were sold. Food carts were around every corner, and there were restaurants with signs in a script Gordon did not recognize - Keelish symbols.

Goddamned suit-rats. Learn to speak a human language! Gordon thought.

"Welcome to Little Rannoch, Gordon. This is the - second - time you've ever visited this area. Would you like a map and guide of stores in the area? Places to eat, perhaps?" Chirped Gordon's VI assistant through a speaker built into his helmet.

Well, he could have already guessed where he was. Never seen so many suit-rats packed into one place.

"Not right now, thanks." Gordon said, his eyes scanning his surroundings, muscles tensed.

"You look like you're about to shit yourself." Aela said, rolling her eyes beneath her mask.

"We're in xeno territory." Gordon spat out.

Aela merely sighed in response. "Quarians are harmless. Give us a chance."

Gordon kept his hands on his pockets, guarding his credit chit and glaring as a Quarian brushed past him. "Yeah, give them a chance to rob me blind."

"Dextro meat buns! Get your dextro pot stickers and meat buns here!" A Quarian in an apron hawked his goods from a nearby foodcart.

Gordon scowled in disgust. "Fucking go back to Rannoch." He muttered under his breath.

"Fuck, that smells delicious!" Aela remarked in passing.

They continued through the bazaar/square until a police cordon stopped them in their tracks. A fully armored officer was keeping the onlookers at bay - a chittering mob of journalists, gawking Quarians, and other locals.

"Move along, nothing to see here." He raised a hand as he spotted the detectives. "Ah, Detectives. Come on through." He said as he lifted the police tape for them to pass through.

One Quarian journalist was particularly determined, and pushed her way forward between the detectives and the cordon. "Detectives? The people demand to know- what is the APD doing regarding the recent crime wave overtaking our city? Is it true that the APD actively discriminates against non-humans? The victim was Quarian. Will he get a proper investigation?"

"No comment. Out of the way." Gordon waved her off and finally managed to duck under the police tape with the help of the stationed officer pushing her back with his baton. "Jesus H. Goddamned blood-suckers." Gordon muttered, shaking his head.

The armored uniform chuckled and said over his shoulder as the detectives continued onwards. "Yeah, welcome to my life bud."

The forensics team was already there, scouring the scene- a remote alleyway - from corner to corner. The officer first to respond to the scene was present and Gordon approached to hear his statement.

"We've been briefed. Anything else you can tell us?" Gordon asked.

"Obvious foul play. Homicide was called in by a local Quarian - owns a bar just adjacent to this alley. Claims he went to take out the trash, and saw the victim. Probably heard or saw something too- but won't admit to anything."

Gordon scowled. Obstruction of justice. Typical of the alien.

Aela spoke for him, seeing Gordon's expression darken. "Is the Quarian around? I'd like to ask him some questions."

The uniform nodded. "Of course, he's right over there." He pointed towards a Quarian dressed in black, leaning against a wall, tapping his feet impatiently.

"Let's take a look at the body first." Gordon said.

At the far end of the neon-soaked alleyway, sprawled out in the center with its back on the ground, lay a Quarian corpse in a pool of its own coagulated blood. Its envirosuit was breached in multiple areas, most notably its chestpiece was rent apart, and its faceplate was shattered. Its face was the picture of agony.

"His final moments were torturous. Keelah. May he rest in peace." Aela mumbled.

Gordon did not respond and continued his examination of the body. "A cutting weapon. Maybe a sword." He mumbled to himself as he traced a finger along a few scratches and grooves on the suit. "There. Stab wound. Punctured through the chest of its envirosuit. Two puncture wounds. Two swords. Chest was stabbed by both at the same time, and in the same motion the chest piece was pried apart."

He moved his eyes towards the Quarian's head area. Its eyes were bugged out, choked in tears, blood, and pus. Its nose was broken. "Blunt force trauma to the face-plate, shattering it. Repeated blows to the face. Trauma to nose, broken cheekbone. Extensive bruising... here, and here. The victim was beaten severely. Most likely before the killing blow by the blades. As a part of an interrogation, perhaps. Explains the torture." Gordon marked the face with a laser pointer as he spoke- to nobody in particular.

Aela crouched beside him and let him work, trying to stay professional even though right in front of her was a fellow Quarian killed in a way she would not wish upon her worst enemy. But eventually, she could no longer hold her peace. "They left him there, bleeding to death and choking on his own pus!" She shouted, nearly trembling in anger.

Gordon ignored her, and continued his systematic investigation of the scene. He put on some gloves and dug a hand through the corpse's pockets. "Aha. Credit chit. This was not a robbery. Still, sloppy work. Rushed for time, perhaps. Or there were too many witnesses." He grabbed the chit and handed it to Aela.

"Scan through this. Check his past transactions."

"Right." She took the chit and plugged it into her omnitool, reading out the logs after breaking through its encryption. "Let's see here... bought some snacks... hit up a strip club - seems to be a regular there... Bought some guns and ammo. And-" She whistled. "What do we have here? Looks like he had a pretty big windfall just prior to this. 100,000 credits wired to his account from... the source is scrubbed from the record. Just says [REDACTED.]"

"Of course it was." Couldn't be that easy. "Big windfall. Payday. So he just finished a gig then. Or just accepted one and got a down payment." Gordon mused. "But doing what? And for whom? Red Lotus?"

"I don't think Red Lotus ever pays that well. But let's go question our friend over there and find out." Aela said. "The strip club he frequented could be another lead. Place is called New Eden."

Gordon sighed. He hated it when the key witness was a xeno. "Fine. Pretty much done here anyway." There was nothing else in its pockets. His eyes flicked upward upon seeing a glowing red dot in the corner of the alley, perched on the side of the bordering building. "CCTV. Perfect." He muttered.

The detectives approached the Quarian witness, apparently owner of the adjacent bar, Bosh'tet Blues.

"Good evening, sir." Gordon began.

Sir? To a 'xeno'? That's new. Aela thought. Guess he can be professional after all.

"We want to ask you a few questions." Aela said in a friendly manner.

"Again? Look, I already told youse and it ain't gonna change no matter how many times you coppers ask."

"Tell it again. From the beginning, please." Gordon said, and took out a notepad and pen. He swore by doing it the old-fashioned way with physical pen and paper.

"Well, it's just like I told the badge over there. I took out the trash, and then saw that poor schmuck laying there dead." The Quarian said.

Sounds awfully rehearsed. Gordon thought.

"And that's all? Did you hear anything? See anything else?" Gordon pressed.

"I told you, that's all that happened!" The Quarian threw up its hands.

Gordon sighed. "Let's start over. What's your name? Tell me about yourself."

The bar-owner tilted his head in confusion, before extending an arm. "Steve. Born and raised in NYC. I run a bar here in Little Rannoch which I would very much like to get back to running."

Gordon shook the Quarian's hand. "Gordon Lou. My partner is Aela. Pleasure to meet you."

"Yeah, yeah. Cut the bullshit. You gonna let me go now? I'm hemorrhaging money standing around talkin' to youse." He began tapping his feet again.

"As soon as you're ready to tell me the truth, we'll let you go." Gordon said, giving a thin smile.

Steve's eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"

"That you're not telling us everything." Aela chimed in. "Listen, we're here to help. Cooperate with us. We can provide WitSec."

Steve seemed to soften somewhat at Aela's words, before bristling again. "Nah. Nah, I ain't falling for that. I already told you everything. Yessir."

Gordon's temper finally gave out.

He suddenly shoved Steve to the wall, knocking the air out of him, and holding him up by the collar of his envirosuit. "Listen here, 'Steve,' and listen good cause I don't like repeating myself. You either tell us the truth, or your suit-rat ass is headed to the clink. And I can pull some strings to make sure you're held up in there for a good long while. Forget about the bar - say goodbye to your puckered anal virginity. Heard the boys up in Alcatraz love some Quarian tail. It's exotic for them." Gordon sneered as Steve began to tremble. "Doubt they care about sterilization and clean-room procedures there, either." He added.

"A-alright! Keelah! Alright already! I'd rather that corpo bitch put two in my head than get ass-raped in the joint. Jesus fuck!"

Gordon let go of his collar, trying to stop himself from smiling in amusement. First time he's ever heard a Quarian say "Jesus" as a swear. It's always been "Keelah." Maybe he really was born and raised in the States. But Gordon kept up the scowl. "'Corpo?' Out with it. Now." He snarled. "Or your asshole is gonna end up like that suit-rat's face." He pointed at the body.

Aela shook her head. But even she had to admit Gordon got results.

"Okay." Steve took a breath. "So maybe I saw somethin'. But you didn't hear it from me."

"Of course. Continue." Aela said while Gordon readied his notepad once more.

"Well... the dead guy over there, he was actually drinking in my bar the night of the murder."

Gordon lifted an eyebrow. "Why hide this from us?"

"The boardroom BITCH threatened to kill me if I didn't stay quiet! It was a Thursday night, not many in the bar. Think it was actually just us three, actually. Rest of the guys were either drunk out of their minds or out cold. Anyway, dead guy sat at the bar, ordered a beer. The corpo comes in awhile later. Sits right next to him at the bar. They get to chatting. I didn't hear much. Didn't listen in. I know the drill. Ain't my first day tending bar." He paused.

"So what happened?" Gordon pressed.

"Well, from the body language, shit was tense." He paused again, before continuing. "The Quarian had his head down. Like he was ashamed or some shit. And the corpo... she seemed pissed as fuck. Then he stood up and left through the back door into the alley. The corpo stood and followed shortly after."

Gordon scribbled furiously into his notepad. "Continue. Did you hear anything else?"

"Heard some... heard some screaming." Steve scratched at the back of his head.

"Anyone else hear it?" Aela asked.

"I mean, probably. But too drunk to care at that point." Steve said, shrugging.

"Then what happened?" Gordon pressed.

"Then she, uh. She walked right back in the bar, slipped me a chit for 1,000 creds and told me I didn't see anything tonight. I just nodded back, and that was that. She left without another word."

"Describe her appearance. Was she carrying a weapon?" Gordon asked, scribbling in the notepad.

Steve tapped the side of his envirosuit helmet, thinking. "Typical corpo bitch. Slick blazer, a blouse, a tight skirt. You know, stereotypical boardroom shit. Looked to be in her mid 20s. Red hair in an updo. Light green eyes. Slim build- athletic type. Actually she was pretty fucking hot, have to admit. But uh, weapons... not sure. She probably concealed them if she had any."

Energy blades, perhaps. Just need the handle + emitter. Easy to conceal. Gordon thought as he continued scribbling. Now that he thought about it, the chest wounds were cauterized. Most the blood came from the Quarian's face injuries. "Could I get your credit transactions history from the till?"

"Sure. I'm dead meat already anyway. Might as well." Steve said as he pulled out the records on the cash register terminal. He handed Gordon the chit. "She ordered a whiskey, on the rocks at 11:32 PM, if that helps."

"Faustine Reign." Gordon read out loud.

"Probably an alias." Aela said.

"No shit." Gordon replied. "Prob some dead chick whose identity they stole."

"So we done here? You gonna place me in WitSec, right?" Steve said, anxiety seeping through his voice.

"Not so fast. Noticed you have CCTV setup. I'd like to take a look at the alleyway feed."

"Oh sure, forgot about the damn thing." Steve said. "Come on then, back to my bar. Security room's in the back."

Steve fast-fowarded until he found what they were looking for.

The video quality was grainy, but Gordon could clearly make out a Quarian and a red-head. The Quarian exited the bar, stopped for a quick smoke through his emergency induction port. The corpo exits about a minute later, the Quarian turns around but it's too late. The Corpo grabs a brick from the ground and slams it against the Quarian's face, knocking him to the ground, his face-plate shattered. He gesticulates with his hands wildly while on the ground, flailing in a panic. He was already doomed as soon as the helmet broke. She straddles him and starts a ground and pound on his face, beating him savagely, before drawing her energy swords-its emitters momentarily blinding the camera before it automatically adjusted the brightness. She stabs the Quarian through the chest with the swords, then rends it apart, tearing open the chestpiece.

She stands there, watching the Quarian die in his own filth and pus. She appears to be talking but the grainy footage makes it hard to make out. She walks back inside the bar, and the Quarian is left in the alley, twitching and spasming before finally growing still.

"Christ." Gordon muttered after Steve paused the recording.

"I need some air." Aela said, her voice choked.

Steve meanwhile, had already vomited into his own envirosuit. "Fucking hell." Was all he could muster, after recovering sufficiently.

"I think we've got all we needed here." Gordon said. "Let's head to New Eden, see if we can pick up the trail from there."

"We can also look into the Corpo's alias, Faustine Reign. See where she works. It's worth a shot." Aela added.

"Sure." Gordon said. He began making for the exit.

"W-wait! What about my WitSec? That corpo's gonna come after me if she finds out I blabbed!"

"Guess you shouldn't have snitched then." Gordon smirked, relishing in the xeno's fear.

Aela turned around to re-assure him. "Steve, I'll put in a request for you down in Central. Don't worry."

"A request!? Protect me now goddamn it!" Steve wailed.

Aela sighed. "Sorry Steve. We can take you down to the station and put you in protective custody, if you'd like?"

"NO! What the fuck man!? You promised WitSec!"

"I didn't promise you shit, suit-rat." Gordon growled. "But I won't charge you for obstruction and aiding and abetting though. So your Quarian asshole is safe." He added, winked at the terrified Quarian.

...

"We're done here. Coroner can do his autopsy, forensics- go crazy." Gordon said to the officer on scene.

"Aye."

Gordon and Aela were once again swarmed by the press as they made their way back to their car.

"Detective! Detective! What can you tell us about the murder? Who was responsible? Will him and his family see justice? The people demand to know!"

"No comment."

"Detective! Is it true the APD is in league with the megacorporations? Taking kickbacks?"

"No. Comment." Gordon growled, shoving away a mic drone from his face.

"Detective! What's it like being a Quarian police officer!? Are they treating you okay?"

"Please, we're very busy." Aela said, waving them off as well.

...

They both sighed in relief once they made it back to the car and the doors shut on the reporters.

"Fuck journos." Gordon groaned.

"For once, we agree on something." Aela replied, smirking.

Gordon grunted in response, then punched in the navcode to New Eden, before laying back and reviewing the notes on his notepad while Aela turned up the volume on the Quarian synthwave that was playing - in a futile attempt to erase what she'd just seen on the security cam footage.

A heavy rain burst from the blackened clouds as they sped through the streets of Neo NYC, streaks of neon dancing along the reflections on the car.

Why was the Quarian killed? What are the megacorporations up to? Gordon couldn't help but think he'd just stumbled into a huge clusterfuck of a conspiracy or plot way above his paygrade. Still, he had a job to do, and he'll do it right.

His thoughts were cut short by the chirping on his omni-tool. A direct call. Unknown number. He patched it through..

"Hello Detective Gordon. I understand you've been asking questions. I want to make a deal. Come meet me. Alone. 2 AM at Brooksford Pier." The voice was feminine.

Well, that was fast. Moles in the APD? Or was the entire fucking place bugged?

"Oh, and don't even think about standing me up, boy scout. I know where you live. More importantly, I know where your ex-wife and daughter lives. Your daughter seems nice. Would be a shame if something happened to her..."

"WHAT? You stay the hell away from my family!" Gordon snarled into his omnitool.

The woman on the line chuckled. "Oooh, touched a nerve, did I? Come meet me, and all will be well. Be seeing you... detective."

She hung up.

"What was that all about?" Aela asked.

"I need to go meet with this bitch." Gordon said, slamming a fist on the dashboard of the car.

"You're seriously going? It's so obvious a trap."

"My daughter is everything to me. I can't risk it."

"One: can't believe an asshole like you has a daughter, and two: why not just have some officers protect her?"

"Don't work like that. Do you know how many cops are in bed with the Corpos' pockets?"

"So Steve's already a dead Quarian walking." Aela paused. "And seems to me you're soon to be one of them- the cops in their pocket."

Gordon remained silent. "I need to make a few calls."

"Do whatever you gotta do. Also, I'm coming with you."

"Like hell you are." Gordon shook his head.

"It's my job too, you know."

"She said come alone. Leave it, suit-rat." Gordon insisted.

"We're partners." Aela insisted back.

"Not off the clock we're not." Gordon snarled.

"Fine. Be that way. Prick."

"It is that way. Forget the strip club. I need to get ready for the meeting. You can clock out head on home now." Gordon spat out.

"Sure, go pray to your God, go get yourself killed you stupid bosh'tet. What do I care?" Aela snarled back. "One less racist to worry about."

...

Nights in Neo New York somehow was brighter than the day time due to all the neon and lights. And yet, it was darker still, at least in other aspects.

And tonight seemed like it would be the darkest of them all.

...