Chapter Seventeen

Roxanne

"Commander, we're coming up on Bekenstein." Joker says over the intercom, pulling my attention from the datapad in my hand.

Garrus glances at me. "What's going on?"

"Kasumi, the newest member that Raphael and Sen grabbed from the Citadel, has a heist she needs help with." I set the datapad on our bed and push to my feet.

"Is your brother going too?" Garrus asks.

"You know, he probably won't mind if you call him 'Raphael' now." I raise an eyebrow. "We are dating."

"I don't know." Garrus shrugs. "It might be awkward. And you just avoided the question."

"I'm going to talk him out of it." I glance towards the door. "This heist requires stealth and infiltration. Those are my specialties."

Garrus sighs as he returns his focus to his rifle. "Just be careful, Rox."

"I'm as careful as you are, Garrus." I step over to him and hug him from behind. "I won't be gone long. Why don't you talk to Sen and Raph a bit? He's going to be pissed when he gets left here."

"Yeah," Garrus shakes his head as he turns around to pull me close, "I'll do that."

We share a kiss before I exit the main battery and head to the shuttle bay. Raphael and Kasumi wait near the shuttle.

"About time." Raphael says as I step over to them.

"Actually," I glance at Kasumi before locking my eyes on Raphael's, "Kasumi and I will be going this alone."

Kasumi tilts her head but says nothing.

"Are you kidding me?" Raphael shakes his head. "Why?"

"This is the shit I'm trained for, Raph." I motion at Kasumi. "Infiltration and stealth. You're not the stealthiest person."

Raphael opens his mouth before slamming it shut. "You've got a point."

"This works well then." Kasumi says as she glances at me. "I didn't realize you were an infiltrator."

"Be careful, Roxy." Raphael says before he stalks off.

"Is Shep upset?" Kasumi asks as we climb into the shuttle.

"A tad." I shrug. "He's fighting between his protective brother instincts and his brain."

"I get it." Kasumi says as the shuttle stops beside the skycar she acquired for the heist.

While she drives the skycar towards the party, I change quickly in the backseat, pulling the dress on in place of my hoodie and pants.

Kasumi lets out a whistle as I join her in the front once more. "Looking good, Ms. Alison Gunn. Hock won't be able to keep his eyes off you."

"What's the cover?" I ask as I pull up my omni-tool.

"You run a small but talented band of mercs out in the Terminus Systems. Precisely the type of person Hock respects." Kasumi says as I skim the information on my omni-tool. "I took the liberty of giving you a reputation. Papers, witnesses, article in Badass Weekly."

"Got it." I say as I close the information. "Anything else?"

"We're looking for my partner's graybox. Hock is a weapons dealer, smuggler, and," she glances forward, a frown tugging her lips down, "murderer. We have to get into his vault to find Keiji's graybox."

"What about weapons and armor?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "In case things go south."

"That's what our tribute is for." Kasumi pulls up an image of a statue. A statue that looks like Saren. "Yup. It's a statue of Saren. But it's filled with our weapons and armor. You can keep your pistol, as long as it's concealed. They won't hassle you over a sidearm."

"Understood." I nod. "Let's go in."

Kasumi nods as we come up on the house. Once the skycar is parked, the two of us step out and head towards the front door.

My eyes flick towards the statue of Saren, anger and pity pulsing through me. An Eclipse security guard holds up a hand, his omni-tool lit up as he scans the statue.

"Hold a moment, ma'am." He calls out to me. "There seems to be an issue with the statue."

A man in a white suit walks down the steps towards us, his facial hair screaming 'I am evil.' "Is there a problem here?" He asks.

"No, Mr. Hock. Just doing a scan." The guard says as he moves his omni-tool over the statue once more.

"I don't believe we've met." Donovan Hock says as he nods towards me. "Donovan Hock."

"Alison Gunn." I say, tilting my head. "A pleasure."

"Sir, the scanners aren't picking anything up." The guard says as his omni-tool dims down.

Hock hums in thought before glancing at the guard. "I don't think our guests would come all the way from Illium just to cause trouble. Do you?"

The guard shrugs.

"You may pass through, Ms. Gunn." Hock says as he turns back to us. "You were invited, after all. But I will ask your companion to remain outside. You understand, I hope."

"Whatever makes you feel more at ease." I say.

Hock nods before heading back into the house. The guard wheels the statue away, likely taking it to the vault.

"Well," Kasumi grumbles as we move aside, "this is kind of shooting my plan in the foot."

"Don't worry." I nod towards the house. "I've got this."

Raphael

Garrus and Serenity glance at me as I step into the mess hall.

"Raph," Serenity calls out as she motions me over, "come talk with us."

I sigh as I move over and sit beside Serenity.

"Are you still upset that Rox went without you?" Garrus asks.

"Of course." I frown. "I know she's capable but I still worry."

"Garrus and I were talking about how he and Roxy met." Serenity nods towards him. "They apparently met before she joined you back then."

I raise an eyebrow. "She mentioned that but didn't say how."

"I think she had passed out from when you touched the beacon." Garrus tilts his head. "I was at the clinic to ask questions about a case when I saw her on one of the beds. She bolted up faster than anything I've seen and talked her way out of there quick. I tried to grab her before she left but she cloaked and disappeared."

I chuckle as I shake my head. "Yeah, Roxy is a bad patient."

"Why do you say that?" Serenity asks as she turns to me.

"Roxy broke her wrist one time chasing down a bully that was hurting animals. She caught the bully, beat him up, and wound up having to go to the hospital after he swung the bat in his hands and broke her wrist." I tilt my head. "She would not stay still the whole time she was there."

"Did she try to escape?" Garrus asks. "Any time she got injured while we were with our team on Omega, she hid it until it got bad."

"That's just Roxy." I say. "And to answer your question, she didn't just try to. She did escape. Our parents were frantic as they looked for her. They found her at home, chilling on the couch and eating ice cream."

"Were they mad?" Serenity asks.

"They were livid." I chuckle. "But they didn't take her back. They knew she'd just escape again."

Garrus shakes his head. "No wonder she kept fighting on Omega even though her wound was almost fatal."

"That's Roxy." I shrug. "If-"

"If I'm breathing, I'm fighting." Roxanne says as she walks up to our table and sits beside Garrus. "My ears were ringing up a storm on the shuttle back."

"How did the heist go?" Serenity asks. "Did you guys run into any trouble?"

Roxanne glances in Kasumi's direction before frowning. "We got the graybox and it needed to be destroyed. Kasumi will probably be upset with me for a bit but it's for her own safety too."

"Did you find out the secret then?" I ask.

Roxanne shakes her head before placing a hand over Garrus'. "I told Joker to head to Tuchanka."

"Ah, for Mordin." Garrus says. "Isn't Wrex there?"

"Actually, for Grunt." Roxanne tilts her head. "His rage is out of control and I'm concerned."

"Did he see Chakwas?" I ask.

"No." Roxanne says. "I think it'd be best to get a krogan opinion. Joker said we'll arrive in a few hours."

"Sen," I turn towards her, raising an eyebrow, "do you have any combat training?"

"No, not really." Serenity frowns. "My biotics are strong but I don't have any military or combat training."

"Want to learn?" Roxanne asks. "Raphael and I can teach you a bit. At least some basics."

Serenity sits there for a moment before nodding. "Sure. It would be useful."