Feron

Feron stopped next to the Citadel Rapid Transit stand and sighed. He'd been on the Citadel for ten day-cycles, and still, he wasn't any closer to locating the AI that Shepard called The Intelligence. The Citadel was a big place, though, with plenty more ground to cover—more than he really wanted to think about. At least he wasn't expected to do it all himself. Activating the console, he called a taxi and then leaned against the partition to wait. The plan was to clear the arms of the Citadel first, combing the wards top to bottom, before moving on to the Presidium.

Shepard seemed pretty sure the room where she found the console to open the arms of the Citadel for the Crucible to dock, in her past lives, was somewhere on the Presidium. She also said that the Citadel was rearranging itself—which meant it could actually be anywhere. Not to mention she was dazed and nearly unconscious when the platform moved. She wasn't sure where it took her, only that she felt herself being lifted upward. So, the Shadow Broker wanted the whole thing scouted out, even if they happened to find signs of the AI in the first place they looked.

The taxi arrived and he climbed inside, selecting the nearest CRT stand in the Bachjret Ward as his destination. Pelathya would meet up with him later, and then he'd take a break for the night. He really wasn't all too sure about the asari when she first became an agent of the Shadow Broker, but he could admit she'd grown on him. She was always one of his first requests for partnered assignments, more so since Aena died in the fight against Cerberus. The two of them worked well together, efficiently, and he rather enjoyed her company during downtime.

Arriving at the Bachjret Ward, he let the taxi's automated system land the vehicle before swiping a credit chit over the pay station. He stepped out of the taxi and tugged on his jacket to straighten it before glancing around the ward. Mostly a residential area, he found himself equidistant to skyrise apartments and an asari-themed park. He paid little attention to either; wherever The Intelligence was, it wasn't going to be in someone's home or surrounded by flowers and a reservoir. He needed to find the nearest entrance into the inner workings of the Citadel.

Pelathya plopped down on the couch and dropped her bags on the table. "Tayseri Ward is clear."

"I finished Zakera and moved on to Bachjret." Feron moved to the table and nudged one of the bags open with the tip of his finger before peering inside. Savory aromas carried by rising steam made his mouth water and his stomach grumble. "I didn't get very far, though. I'll head back tomorrow." He pulled out one of the boxes and took a seat on the couch next to her, popping the lid open and picking up the utensil tucked inside before digging in.

"Maybe we should go together." She pulled out the other box and sat back, opening the container and holding it against her chest as she ate. "We might not get through it any faster, but at least it won't be so damn monotonous."

He thought about it for a few moments, taking several bites to quiet his stomach while he did so. "It's the last ward … might as well. It's probably best if we handle the Presidium together."

She scoffed and tapped the toes of her boot against his leg. "You just want credit for finding the damn thing."

"Not true." He chuckled and glanced over his shoulder at her, the humor in her eyes bringing a smile to his face. "I'm far more concerned with you giving yourself away and alerting it to our intentions."

Scowling, she narrowed her eyes. "I'm nearly two hundred years older than you. I was doing this sort of thing while you were still nothing but a distant possibility, your ancestors' imaginings of future generations."

"And yet, I still manage to do it all so much better than you." He grinned and scooted back, resting against the cushions next to her.

She scoffed again and slapped his chest with the back of her hand. "So little experience, so much arrogance."

A hitch in Pelathya's step as she looked at her omni-tool prompted Feron to do the same. He glanced down at the device on his wrist, forcing his expression to remain neutral as he caught sight of the light no longer flashing green but holding at a steady red. They'd found it. Well, they'd found something at least. As planned, they both kept walking, keeping up their casual conversation about the strained atmosphere on the Citadel over The Dissension.

"Still, it does seem to be getting better." Pelathya's gaze shifted to him, and she shrugged. "The Hierarchy is really working hard to make it clear they aren't willing to tolerate The Dissension. I'm honestly surprised The Dissension was able to pull in as many turians as it has. I didn't think so many of them still took issue with humans."

They both knew at least some of the hate group had shown themselves to be indoctrinated, but only a fool believed it meant every turian involved was tainted by the reapers' influence. The old Shadow Broker wasn't known for dealing with fools … at least not those hired to work for him. Grundan Krul took to the role spectacularly, holding to higher standards than his predecessor, and he was far better tempered.

"This is true." Feron nodded his agreement, knowing his words really added nothing to the conversation. It was intentional, of course. "I'm told Primarch Fedorian was the first to send aid to Earth during the collector attack."

He kept them moving through the bowels of the Citadel, walking at a casual pace and stopping to check every mass effect node they came across. It would naturally stand out as odd to any organic who crossed their path, but the hope was that The Intelligence would dismiss them if they seemed to be serving some purpose. Assuming, of course, The Intelligence was monitoring them at all. It was completely possible they were utterly beyond the AI's notice, innocuous insects which just happened to break away from the swarm.

They would make their way through the rest of the sector they were in and then return to the upper levels, back out among the masses. Once they were in a taxi, headed back to the docks, he would contact Thane as promised. Together, they would call the Shadow Broker and discuss matters aboard the ship Feron and Pelathya arrived in, as far away from the Citadel as necessary to ensure their privacy.

"We only know for certain that there is an AI housed somewhere in that location." Feron tucked his hands behind his back, holding Thane's gaze as he said, "There isn't any way for us to be certain it's The Intelligence and not another AI without it becoming clear we are actively searching for the AI. Shepard once destroyed another AI on the Citadel, an illegal program used to steal credits, so it isn't impossible for there to be more."

"I suggest we discreetly place the monitors." Pelathya pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing her legs. "We should be able to tell rather easily whether the AI is strong enough to be The Intelligence or not. If it's not … we collect the monitors and keep looking."

"You only have one shot at this." On the screen, Grundan Krul blinked and looked at everyone in the room before settling his gaze on Feron. "There's too much at risk for any mistakes to be made. If this thing is watching Shepard, and you get caught, it'll know you're acting on her behalf."

"Do you think it'll take action against her?" Pelathya shifted, draping an arm over the back of the chair. "It hasn't yet, and if it is watching her, it already knows she's a threat."

"Perhaps," Thane said, looking from the Shadow Broker to Pelathya, "but we don't know what might be the thing to provoke The Intelligence into action."

"Have you a better plan in mind?" Pelathya asked, her tone holding only curiosity.

"EDI suggested we attempt to speak to The Intelligence." Feron took a deep breath and turned his attention back to Grundan Krul. "Perhaps we should heed her advice?"

Grundan Krul shook his head. "Archangel would hate that idea."

"Indeed." Thane looked at the floor for a moment, shifting his weight before turning his attention back to the screen. "I don't suggest any action be taken without consulting with him, however, I think he would agree the decision should involve Shepard. She might have something more to tell us, something to ensure our success."

"If we discuss the matter on the Citadel," Pelathya said, waving her hand before letting it drop to her thigh, "we might as well broadcast our intentions directly to The Intelligence."

"And Anderson won't let her off the Citadel," Grundan Krul added.

Thane glanced at Pelathya and hummed. "Perhaps there is another way." He brought a fist to his mouth and coughed gently before tucking his hand behind his back once more. "Asari are able to meld with more than one person at a time, unless I am mistaken?"

Pelathya's eyes widened, lips parting, but it took her a moment to respond. "We are … the older the asari the easier it is and the more people she can meld with, but if you're suggesting I—"

"No." Thane shifted, coughing into his fist again. "My apologies, but no. I didn't mean to suggest that you …. I have a friend, someone I have known for many years. I'll contact her and ask her to come to the Citadel."