"You're being followed."

Ashoro mumbled through her cigarette as she lit it, the light showing her copper face under the blue tint that turned her a shade of purple.

"What the?" With a frustrated sigh Maxine was ready to tell him off as he approached, one hand holding his drink as the other tucked away in his pocket.

"Sorry to bother you but, I was wondering if you were available for hire?"

Sai'ira tilted her head to see Max's expression, a mixture of confusion and embarrassment swirlled around her face and her voice even wobbled with frustration.

"Um, no we're good-got a job lined up." Max rolled her eyes.

"Oh-"

"What's the job?" Knowing a clandestine opportunity when she saw one, Sai'ira offered him a seat as she shifted in the booth. Setting his drink on the table she felt the daggers on the side of her head as she gave Allen her attention.

"I'm sure you three are aware of the communication lockdown?" He kept his voice low thankfully the place wasn't packed only a few scattered patrons. Even though she spent a long time on Earth, for all Sai'ira knew he could've gotten his thick UK accent from his parents on board a space station.

"What do you want us to do about it?" Maxine curtly spoke as she eyed him. A little less kindly this time as now Allen shifted from mild pleasure to buisness in her mind. Sai'ira gave her a look, having a strangely good feeling about this she felt he was a broker contact or maybe put in the right place at the right time.

"I've been trying to jury rig an antenna for a week, I've got some great stories-Allen by the way, reporter." Realizing he hadn't introduced himself properly to the others.

"Ashoro."

"Sai'ira."

"Right, I just need help with the parts and getting them to the top of the dome."

"Like, on the outside?" Sai'ira's eyes darted across the blue-lit table to Ashoro.

"Why can't you hijack a junction inside the dome?" The drell raised a brow as she took a drag.

"Well aside from there not being any guards on the top of the dome, the junction signals have to go through the antennas."

"Fair enough." Blue tinted smoke hovering in the air above her.

"We could use the Fox." Sai'ira suggested.

"It'd get picked up on sensors even with the stealth systems, it's just too big, and too close. The main problem is getting there and getting out the same way...without being caught of course."

"Speaking of high-jacking junctions," Maxine added, "what are you sending?"

"Well for starters, that I'm alive and stuck around to report on the ongoing tensions only I've got no where to send my stories. Hence why I need your help, and with the four of us we could also get inside the shipyards." His eyes looking between them as he took a drink. Setting the sweaty glass down his hands clasped as the three remained silent.

"Have you been to the shipyard docks?" Maxine asked.

"Well no, but getting in isn't really as hard as it sounds. Again I'd need a way to transmit my data, otherwise it's really not worth the risk."

His eyes rested on Max as both Ashoro and Sai'ira turned to her. Max knew Ashoro wouldn't care much either way but Sai'ira definitely saw this as a lead. Finding a way to break through the communication lockdown would be helpful, she wasn't so sure about the shipyards though.

"Give us a moment." They all leaned over the table once Allen stood up, using hushed tones.

"We just figured out how to get comms up and running, let's ditch him." Max proposed.

"Uh, no, he can get us into the shipyards."

"No he can't, and that's not what we're here for-"

"Oh I see we need to risk our lives climbing to the top of the dome or getting caught at a junction so we might get a line on the broker...or we can also save the planet from a war by proving there are no dreadnoughts. Seems like a hell of an opportunity to me." Her hazel eyes narrowed at Max across the table. Sai'ira leaned back catching a whiff of Ash's ash-breath.

Pursing her lips Maxine shook her head as she thought about it. "Fine but I'm going to the docks while you two figure out the comms situation."

"Deal."

"Do you know a place where you could get the parts?" She asked, looking to Ashoro next to her.

"I can jury rig a transceiver no problem I've just got to refigure a router. The real issue, as Allen mentioned, is security I'll have to find Tarik see if he can give us anything to get around them."

"Alright, Sai'ira-"

"Stay out of trouble, got it." Shepard gently rubbed her jaw as she smiled.

"Right." Maxine sighed as she sat back and looked at Allen. "We can scope out the industrial domes, see what's there to find."

"So, you'll do it?" Returning to his seat.

"Pay better be good." Ashoro eyed him.

"Of course I'm sure the network can work something out." He looked confident, even with his relaxed posture leaning against the vinyl seat.

"They better, or you wont be leaving this frozen shit hole." Max assured him. They all fell silent as the waiter approached, after ordering they agreed to meet in the front of the hotel in the morning. The rooms were clean, spartan must have been the batarian substitute for style a lot of solid colors and squares. Very 2185, ultimately Sai'ira was just happy the sheets were clean, her bruising went down after applying some more medi-gel and Ashoro treated the bathroom like a locker room walking in on Shepard half-naked to take her turn in the shower.

"There's a shower in the other room too." Which of course Max took for herself.

"Yeah, but I'm already here, don't worry you're not my type." She said tossing her shirt on the floor.

"That's not...the point." Shepard mumbled as she checked her scalp for chaffing. Finding another spot, near the end of her hair tentacle. She felt a little awkward going through her early maiden stages surounded by strangers, though it could be worse. If Aethyta saw them she'd probably make a crack about being a dancer at a seedy club, or knowing a decent porn producer. She wondered what her grandmother was doing hopefully she hasn't gotten her into any trouble. Shepard wondered what she thought about her heading to Kriek, her duel with Dh'elia. While she's unable to now Shepard did send a message before leaving, she hadn't heard back. Keeping Aethyta in the dark was probably best as it meant that Sai'ira was doing everything of her own accord even if some of it might benefit E'nea. Sai'ira doubted that crashing a skaycar into a public park, followed by a public execution, and the beating of one of her lieutenants probably didn't endear her to the governor.

Break

When she looked up at the windows she saw a light gray, what passes for sunshine up north. While it did add some light the dome was still dark and somehow strangly damp. It was the heavy, stale, greased up air flowing by with every skycar, like being in a giant metro, complete with homeless not far from the buskers down the street. Sai'ira leaned against the railing on the Haymor steps as smoke from Ashoros cigarette filled her nostrils. Looking down at the drell as she sat on the steps zoned out or so it seemed.

"You ever try quiting?"

"Ha!"

Maxine came down the steps with no sign of Allen. Ever since Korlada she's had a different look in her eye, more serious than annoyed, stressed. Anyone would be after being tortured, her confidence seemed to hold and she held herself well, Sai'ira respected that. The ability to keep going even when it becomes more than uncomfortable, is a skill few have. Sai'ira certainly felt lacking, It gave her something to think about. She'd been feeling more anxious especially after her duel, as relaxed as she is now she wouldn't mind going off on someone deserving. Then again that's the easy part for her, reacting, now that she thought about it that's all she's been doing for a long time.

"Think he's a snitch?" Ashoro spoke through her cigarette.

"Doubtful, batarians aren't big on humans. Trusting the local government would be a risk to say the least." She eyed Shepard on the latter comment knowing exactly why batarians have a distinct hatred for a certain human.

"They aren't big on anyone, 'cept maybe asari, but everyone likes you, eh?"

"Perhaps I should be more friendly then." Sai'ira rolled her eyes.

"Not punching half the people you meet would probably be a good idea though."

"I do not."

"You've punched me." Max replied.

"Between the two of us that's half, have you tried quiting?" A snarky grin curled across Ashoros face.

"He actually asked me to meet him at some shop a few blocks away, I'm still not sure how we get into the shipyards."

"You'll figure it out." Sai'ira assured.

"Might take us all day to figure out the comms. Sure you don't want backup?" Flicking her cigarette into the street, it landed in a puddle of unknown liquid slowly dripping into the gutter. She picked up her bag, aside from their helmets and a few tools she also kept a chocolate bar of conspicuous age.

"Don't worry about me, I may not know my way around the domes but I do know the Federation."

"Good luck all the same." Ashoro gave a mock salute as she started walking with Sai'ira in tow.

"Yeah, you too." A wave of uncertainty hit her, she'd have to keep her mouth shut about who she works for. Allen is a reporter after all, or perhaps he's something more, either way she's breaking the rules now not just bending them, divulging secrets is a big no-no. Not that she knew anything about the shipyards only that to say they're kept under lock-and-key is an understatement. Not to mention what the guards would do if they found two spys, she hardly thought they'd be as lenient as Dh'elia's men.

Pushing those thoughts aside, her mind wondering upon the consequences of capture would do no good. Instead she was more curious about this place Allen wanted to meet. From the outside she thought she was going to get mugged, if he wasn't standing outside the assortment of buildings (neither which had a shop sign) She'd turn around and join the others. He waved her down before she even thought about abandoning him, and it was a thought, she had no reason to help him other than Sai'ira's intuition.

Go in, find nothing, be a hero. She thought as she crossed the street.

"Shop's back here."

"Down the alley?"

"It's technically a street, but then again half the dome has been knocked down, rebuilt, or just built over."

Maxine must have looked hesitant, aside from her hand being close to the mag-holstered pistol on her hip. It's not that it was a haunting empty corridor. It's that she caught a few glimpses of the unsavory characters walking in and out.

"Stay close to me lass, you'll be fine."

Her eyes narrowed at the back of his head as he turned. She relaxed only because being jumpy while carrying is normally a recipe for disaster. What little natural light the windows that capped the dome afforded was now gone as they walked down the corridor. Poorly lit with fading string lights hanging above them, most likely a replacement for the broken wall lights that dotted the alley. The walls were oily and covered in black graffiti-even the art was dour. Smelling something foul she really hoped the human sleeping on the cardboard mat was in fact sleeping. Near a dumpster and next to a fading heat lamp another human was helping a woman put a needle in her arm, her veins turned black as her pupils dilated. About a yard away as they past the two, a bone-thin young man beckoned Allen.

"Wanna make it a three way baby? It don't cost much." He barely looked awake.

"Another time."

The young man did the same to a passing batarian and was quickly berated, many more simply walked by.

"Jesus Allen, what the hell is down here that you need so much?" She wasn't used to it, or it had been a while. Even when she was in C-SEC Maxine was a pilot she saw the aftermath never how they lived in the wards. It's not that she didn't know, the domes did have a certain "notoriety" when it came to the treatment of foreigners. It was just another reminder of why she wanted to be home, how she felt hopelessly dragged further into a game she thought she knew how to play.

"Immigration is strict here, and information is tightly controlled. Once your visa is up you have a few days to leave otherwise you're sent to a labor camp for five years as penalty. Most of the aliens mysteriously don't make it."

She still didn't understand, like many who live in the south Maxine didn't know that much about Kriek. It's ran by batarians for batarians and that's honestly all she ever needed to know. It's how E'nea seemed to like it, the mountains get mined, the ships get built, no one asks questions.

"What, they couldn't figure out where the door is?"

"Different people have different reasons. I suppose some are better than others, what? This kind of stuff doesn't happen where you're from?" Stopping in front of a door with the shattered window covered in plastic, no sign on the door just a beat up store front.

"Not where I grew up." She paused, "it's nothing like this in New Horizon there's sun for one. And places for people to get help. E'n-The governor solved- helped solve- most of these issues a long time ago."

A New Horizon should not be built on broken backs and empty promises. Her language while often charitable, is usually backed by sound buisness. To this day there are no tariffs in the Shadow Sea, E'nea doesn't gouge traders in docking fees, and has both encouraged and found ways to reward charity. Horizon is not only a gateway to the Traverse, the most habitable planet in the Shadow Sea, and a hub for trade, more importantly (or rather consequently) it's a place people want to be. Looking around Kriek however, Maxine saw a lot of broken backs and empty promises. And it wasn't just the aliens, there were batarians in N.H. and they certainly didn't have the same look as the many she passed in the street.

"You know as well as I, that as long as Vanipol churns out war ships I can tell you T'loak doesn't give a damn. These people rely on smugglers and the black market to keep them alive, and out of the shipyards and mines." His gaze was different, piercing even, Maxine didn't like it she felt like she was being judged.

She shook her head, she had to focus on what they were doing, the task at hand.

"Listen, how about you focus less on your pulitzer, and more on getting out of this shithole alive." Her eyes narrowed and Allen seemed to give up as he opened the door.

"After you."