"I blame you." Ashoro grunted as she hung next to Maxine in the clubs security room situated at the top level of the crown.

"I know." With a sigh Maxine looked down at the floor as her hands hung zip-tied inches from the tile. All she wanted was to put this Fel buisness behind her, apparently Dh'elia did not see it that way. With Ashoro occasionally bumping against her from behind Max looked up at her feet which were held by a fairly simple yet effective knot. Maxine couldn't tell if Ashoro had done the same however, when her hands were bound she clenched her fists and put them against each other giving herself some wiggle room. Knowing there's no real chance of escape she did what she could to ignore the blood rushing to her head.

"Oh shit."

"What? Have to pee?"

"No I just realized Sai'ira might try to save us-oof." The turian guard back handed her in the stomach which swung her from side to side, with the blood begining to go to her head Maxine had to fight her nausea.

"Enough talking."

"Listen," Max Eyed him from below. "I don't care what your boss asked, you don't fucking touch me. Do it again and it wont matter what happens to me. Because If I go under then so do you."

The turian didn't say anything and Max couldn't see his expression but he shook his head, grumbling as he sat down at the security console.

Shifting her feet under the rope Max felt her turn to try and face her. "Anyway...sure she might try something but Dh'elia is obviously baiting her in to some kind of trap."

"Ash."

"Yeah?"

"She'll take the bait."

"How do you know?"

"Oh...just a hunch." She knew Sai'ira couldn't resist a direct challenge or she figured Dh'elia could rile her up enough to challenge her out right. She wanted this all to end, she'd been caught up in inter-organization conflict before but this was beginning to pan out in a way that did not end well for her.

The door slid open and an asari clad in security armor walked in, Ge'tal. Maxine struggled to look up but she could tell by her walk, even in combat boots she still carried a pompous gate.

"Looks like Dh'elia got what she wanted out of your friend."

Maxine rolled her eyes, "which is?"

"Shepard, obviously doesn't care about you. She'd already been suspicious of Fel his loss wasn't too great- once a traitor-you know?"

She walked over and cut them both down removing the bindings around their wrists and feet. Max felt the pressure slowly leave her head as she sat up right eyeing Ge'tal. She didn't like the way she looked at her, superior, better, but more than that she seemes to be hiding something.

"You know Dh'elia also can't let what happened to Fel slide, appearances and all that." She retrieved a combat knive from her gauntlet the way she eyed it and them Max knew what she was in for.

"She wasn't there." Stepping between Ashoro and Ge'tal she gave a narrow glare. Knowing full well that at any moment her life would be forfeit, in her head Maxine just hoped she could get her friend out in one piece.

"Fine, but it'll cost you more than a scar."

Maxine could only see the knife, it couldn't have been longer than about six inches. She'd never been cut before other than by accident she knew it could be more painful than a bullet which scared her. Though to Maxine failing to keep her word to a friend would feel about the same. Ashoro may get along fine with her but this situation is the exact reason she's always hesitant to help Max as far as buisness goes. She also wasn't apart of this life she didn't swear any oath, she'd never worked for a captain directly always through Max.

"Let her go now then."

"Fine." Ge'tal tilted her head to the door.

Ashoro didn't say anything her dark eyes caught Maxines and she nodded. Maxine felt herself begin to sweat as the door closed behind Ashoro.

"Take a seat." Ge'tal ordered.

Maxine sat down at one of the consoles the turian stood up and grabbed her arm, taking care to spread her fingers. Maxine couldn't help her breathing as much as she tried to control it deliberately with deep breaths she began to shake as Ge'tal walked across tbe room.

"You really only need three." He said.

"Seems fair to me, what do you think Max?"

"Just fucking get it over with!" She almost didn't get her last word out when she felt the searing, sharp pain on her little finger. Like someone dragged it against asphalt for a mile until nothing was left. Maxine gritted her teeth, spit and sweat shot from her mouth as she dug her heals into the floor.

"Fucking champ over here." The turian chuckled.

Maxine couldn't see over him much but she caught a glimpse of Ge'tal Max, practically hyperventilating prepared for what came next. The door slid open with a small hiss, Ge'tal paused and turned to see who it was.

"Son of a-" a bright flash that nearly blinded Maxine cut her off as her hands moved to her face she heard the knife fall to the ground. The turian wasn't fast enough as an omni-blade was plunged into his chest as he turned around. Ashoro sloppily cut through him, as midnight blue covered the security console Max quickly retrieved her hand, seeing her little finger cut off at the knuckle she heard a hissing noise that wasn't the door. The scent of ozone and burnt flesh quickly filled the room, nearly intoxicating Maxine as she struggled to stand on her shaking legs.

"Comon, let's get you out of here."

"We're really fucked now." She found medi-gel from a first aide station on the wall. Ashoro quickly retrieved gauze from it and helpped her wrap her hand.

"We have to find Sai'ira." Max gasped, her heart felt like she sprinted five miles straight. Her hand felt like it was stuck in a block of ice thanks to the medi-gel. She spied her dark digit on the console her manicured nail shinning, shaking her head Maxine ignored it.

"Then we cut our losses and make a break for Kriek." She didn't feel Ashoro tie the knot for the gauze until she walked to the door to check hallway and Max looked down.

"You still want to go through with it? What's E'nea going say?"

"I came here to spare her a headache, I failed. Now all that matters is finding the Shadow Broker, no more distractions." She looked at Ge'tal on the floor clutching her face. Ashoro must have set her incinerate at maximum if it lit up the room the way it did, she didn't want to see charred asari but she figured Ge'tal wouldn't need her omni-tool anymore. Kneeling down she picked up her side arm then ran a sync program that helped her jailbreak her omni-tool, from there Maxine checked her messages while she downloaded keys and various operational codes.

"Anything good?" Ashoro asked.

"Sai'ira's being held on the other side of the building, Christ."

"What?"

"She took the bait, she's going to fight Dh'elia on the roof. Actually...I have a plan we can talk about it on the way down."

She walked to the door where Ashoro stood, seeing her watch the hall made Maxine all the more greatful that her friend came back.

"Ash." Resting a hand on her shoulder, Maxine was trying to find better words but Ashoro returned the gesture her quad-fingered hand on her shoulder.

"We're not out of this yet."

Maxine smiled in relief as she nodded in response. "First thing's first, we need to get back to my car."