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Requested by :

Espacole

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When Kasumi Goto had shown up at the meeting point, she'd expected one of two things. Either very-obviously-trying-not-to-be-obvious C-Sec operatives milling about waiting for her as part of a sting. Or, much less likely but who could guess, really, in this crazy galaxy, the bona fide Commander Shepard showing up to get her for some edge of her seat nonsense. To her surprise, enough that she absolutely didn't almost drop her pilfered pastry on the patrolling policeman below, Commander Shepard actually showed up.

Along with a Turian that her facial recognition software tagged as one G. Vakarian. Or, well, it was C-Sec's, but they never used it or protected it so why not borrow it? Anyway, she had to focus on the part-time fanboy, full time fanatic, of Shepard's and her Reaper talk back before she'd vanished into who knows what hole. It had always been very Turian of him, the way he just sort of… Held on to what she'd said, loyal to a fault.

Weird, but definitely very Turian.

He was very obviously agitated, to say the least about him. He didn't walk, he stalked, flanges tight to the side of his jaw and talons flicking occasionally. Normally, she'd have expected Shepard to calm him down. Turians were notorious for authorities they trusted being able to get them to cool off. Yet, when she did seem to speak, he only seemed more agitated.

And then the shuttle lifted off and away…

On a hunch, she popped a sensor tag on it as it vanished and slipped down the wall deftly to get to the ground floor. Then she slipped into a duct and crawled along on all fours, popping out in a sub-level parking sector full of cars no one would really miss if she borrowed one. With a semi-new little can to flit around in, she slipped into traffic to follow the air-car's sensor to its first stop.

Where she saw a grizzled old mercenary made of more scar tissue than skin step out with… Two young girls, one of them armed… Exotically, even by Kasumi's standards.

Which was at least interesting enough to take a peek… And she had the tracker on the air-car if they turned out boring.

"Wait, you followed me 'cuz of the girls?"

"Hey, old man heading into a kiddy store with two young girls?" She was invisible but she shrugged anyway, grinning widely at the man's obvious, growing agitation. "I was worried they were being put up to something a bit, well… Not very good. For them, I mean. Sounds pretty great for an old perv, though, doesn't it?"

"Shivving you is gettin' real appealin'…"

"Relax, I'm joking." She smiled, "Well, mostly, but still, shivving is bad."

"For me or you?"

"Yes." She answered, "It's bad for both of us, because I can't make you offers if you stab me."

"Mhm." Zaeed growled, smiling as the waitress slipped by again, dropping off some cheesy breadsticks and another refilled drink for him. Once she was gone he asked, "That's kinda ironic, ain't it? You bein' sus o' me and then you come 'n ask me about all o' the shit that went down."

"A bit, yeah." Her good humor faded fast at that, though, and she sighed, drumming her fingers on the table between them and murmuring, "Gotta say, if I didn't definitely need her help, I probably wouldn't come with after what she did."

"Don't say that in front of Red." Zaeed growled, "She'd drop twelve kinds o' hell on me for tellin' you. About what happened or her, you know…"

"Super powers?"

"Yeah." He grumbled, "Those."

"Yeah, uh, you probably shouldn't have told me about those, Old Man Stabber." She agreed quietly, chuckling nervously and adding, "I'm… Having some trouble actually believing it, honestly."

"Yeah, well, seen it myself." He growled back, "Nikos trussed up a Krogan like a present for the holidays back on Omega. Fist fought a Battlemaster, too, 'n survived. That has a vid up on the 'Net, if ya wanna see it."

"No, I have." Who hadn't, really? It had been shooting around online for weeks and weeks by people trying to figure out if it was even real. "I guess you're saying that's all real, then."

"Don't believe me?"

"I don't have a reason to." Even if her gut told her what she'd said was true. And… "My gut is telling me two things, Massani. One of them is that you aren't telling me everything about this situation that those girls wound up in."

"Cuz I'm not." He nodded simply, earning a surprised raise of her eyebrows even if she knew the man couldn't see her, "What I'm keepin' is a bit personal to Penny, over there. I know I told ya shit that ain't mine to tell, and Nikos would kill me if she knew I had and it put you off helpin' us, but that? Nah. Too personal."

"More personal than…" She searched for words and finally flailed, "Than, I dunno, soul rape?"

"Yep." He took a long sip of his drink, "More personal 'n that."

"Huh…"

"You said Shepard is s'posed to help you with somethin', right?" The Mercenary suddenly grunted as she tried to silently rise and vanish. Surprised, she stopped, half wondering if he could see her somehow. But he was looking out at the game floor where, when she looked, she could see the lightly armored woman and the smaller one playing a crane game with wide, happy eyes.

"I did, yeah." She finally said, easing back into the seat silently. "But I'm… Kind of thinking about getting the help I need somewhere else."

"S'a good idea." He grinned, "I just so happen to know a pair o' girls that might wanna help. And an old bastard that can't keep from helpin 'em, too."

"You're serious?"

"As a bullet." He growled and, after a moment, Kasumi realized it was a laugh as he tapped his scarred head. "An' I happen to be something of an expert on how serious bullets are, if ya follow."

"...A heist." She eventually answered, "I need someone that can follow my instructions to access suites and play the part of a mercenary captain. And some muscle to escort him."

"I was a merc captain." He grumbled, "So I can play that part. And those two oughta be good 'nough for muscle."

"I don't know…"

"Nikos can wrestle a Krogan." Zaeed growled shortly, "She's good 'nough for anyone that would bother to ask 'bout it. Even if it's just 'cuz that think I'm some daft git that took her hype for real, they'd let it go for that reason."

"I guess you have a pretty good point, there." Any Terminus mercenaries were crazy, greedy, or stupid, and the ones that lived were ussually a combo of the three. All scarred up like that, the old man could pass for crazy, and buying a vid online and hiring Nikos for it would be plenty stupid. "I wanted serious muscle, though. And something that looks like muscle, too. Looking scary can be the same as being scary in this kind of operation."

"Hm…" After a long moment, the merc grinned the kind of grin that made Kasumi's hairs stand on end. "You know where the Normandy is docked, Goto?"

"Yep."

"Meet us there in a few hours." He growled, "I have an idea for someone we might be able to use. If he doesn't smear us across the decks, at least…"

"I don't like that that's an option…"

"Eh, if anything, he'd end up the one smeared across the inside of the cargo bay. Nikos'll be there, after all." The man chuckled, gaze flicking off to the side as he grumbled. "Meet ya at the docks, then, we'll sort shit out better. But I see my order on its way, that little waitress is just grinnin' so I know its for me."

"Alright, then."

"Oh, and Goto?" He grunted, tugging her to a stop as she stepped away, towards the back room she'd use to slip out. "Bring your gun."

Because that wasn't foreboding at all…

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Before Pyrrha knew it, hours had passed in a blur of fun games, food that was the perfect combination of 'too greasy to be healthy' and delicious, and nothing in the wild, crazy world to worry about. In Mistral she'd never been allowed into such places aside from press events, where she was not allowed to so much play a game or eat the food as pose with either for pictures. Back then she hadn't understood why they would use make-up and effects to make her look like she'd been enjoying the cafes and game rooms rather than just have her actually do it and take pictures after.

Now, with her hair dishelved and drenched in sweat that had it sticking to her neck and shoulders, she had a bit of an idea why.

If anyone took her picture right now she'd stab them.

"This was so much fun, Friends!" Penny smiled, sitting next to her and picking pepperonis off her pizza. For some reason, she liked to pick them off and eat them separately from the rest. "Father never let me go to arcades like this…"

"Sounds like a shitty dad, then."

"He was splendid, as Father and creator both." Penny countered, shooting one of her rare but no less heated glares across the table at the man. Dropping her eyes back to the pizza she was disassembling she added, begrudgingly, "He was simply… Limited in what he could do. Or allow me to do, for that matter."

"My agents were the same." Pyrrha added with a nod, "Albeit mainly for more… Monetary concerns."

"Everybody's out for somethin', yeah." Zaeed grumbled, earning a confused look from Pyrrha until he leaned forward on the table and smiled. "Speakin' of people who are after shit, I met someone a bit ago that needs our help with somethin'."

"Who?" She asked, "And help with what, exactly?"

"She didn't say, really, beyond us stealin' some shit and needin' muscle for it." He shrugged, waving them both off when she and Penny both traded unsure glances and then looked to him with narrow eyes and furrowed brows. "But it's the kinda help that gets us a specialist for our little bug extermination job."

"And you trust her?"

"Nikos, the only thing I trust is a grenade." He grunted, "And that's only if it's 'bout ten feet away from me."

"That's so sad, Friend Zaeed..." Penny whispered, her eyes wide and dewy.

"What? No, it's- Penny, it's just a sayin', I don't actually-"

"It is okay, Friend Zaeed." Penny said innocently, smiling and leaning over the table to lay her hand on top of his. "No matter who hurt you, or how, we are here for you! Just let us know if you ever need to talk and we will be there with ice cream and romantic comedy movies to spend the night."

"...Okay then." Zaeed rumbled as she sat back down, blinking owlishly, "So, first of all, I'm not a fuckin' middle-aged lady that got cheated on. So… There's that."

"You're telling me you would not enjoy a night full of ice cream and warm movies full of laughs?" Pyrrha challenged him, smiling when he frowned and grumbled to himself. More seriously, Pyrrha pressed them back to the important conversation, "You think this is a good idea, Zaeed?"

"I think it's better 'n anything else, yeah." He nodded, folding his arms over his lightly armored chest. Why no one was bothering them, Pyrrha didn't know, but she was not about to worry about it right now. "And if y'all don't wanna help, I won't hold it against ya, either. I'll tackle it an' the recruitment solo."

"Recruitment?"

"Yeah, I got me a stupid idea on that." Zaeed rumbled out a long, quiet laugh and took a moment to rip a hunk off of his pizza and chew it. "So, in or out? Cuz she's waitin' near the ship right now."

"If you need my assistance then I am most definitely in, as you said, Friend." Penny beamed eagerly, turning a look on Pyrrha beside her and asking, quietly, "Will you come with us, Best Friend Pyrrha?"

"I… Suppose I am." She smiled, turning to Zaeed, "When do we leave?"

"As soon as you're done eatin'." Zaeed answered quietly, "Then we'll pop on down and… Get this done."

They finished eating rather quickly after that, though less for any rushing on their part and more for the hours they'd already spent enjoying their games and then their food. Finished, they paid their tabs - or, well, Zaeed paid for them, since he had decided it was his treat - and then left. Half an hour later they stepped out onto a wide, open, busy sort of promenade that looked out on the stars themselves. To one side was empty space, waiting to be filled by another ship no doubt. While on the other side, the Normandy had been moored. Repair and refit crews in simple grey uniforms worked loudly, the sound of metal on metal and orders being called out carrying around the bay, while others unloaded empty crates and power cells and replaced them with new, fresh supplies.

It was all rather efficient, quick, and impressive.

"There you are, finally." Pyrrha spun on her heel, Milo and Akuo springing to her grip as she searched for the sound. With a shower of sparks and a chuckle a woman began to appear from what seemed to be thin air, hands held high in a show of surrender, clad in a hooded, form fitting black and grey suit of light armor that was not unlike her own. "Hey, now, I'm sorry I surprised you but please don't stab me."

"Nikos, no stabbing Kasumi unless she annoys the shit outta either of us." Zaeed introduced, laying a hand on her shoulder as he stepped between them and Pyrrha relaxed. To the very obvious thief he said, "Keep the cloak up, don't wanna get spotted. They're in on helpin' you, but the guy I need to talk to is on the ship right now."

"Anyone interesting?" Kasumi asked as she lowered her hands, sparks dancing along her lithe body, masking it from sight as Pyrrha watched them dance along her. The woman giggled, when they trailed up her stomach, and added teasingly, "My eyes are up here, Red. Not that you can see them, you know, but still."

"Of course." She nodded, fixing her eyes on where she thought Kasumi's head would be. "I've just never seen that kind of technology, that's all. Not at this level of sophistication, at least."

"Thanks." She answered, "Designed it with a… Friend of mine, a while back."

"Ah." Pyrrha knew the tone she heard there, in the woman's voice. The well-hidden pain of someone that had lost someone dear to them. Quietly, she asked, "Is… Are they related to this 'heist' of yours?"

"Very much so, yes." The woman admitted, forcing an air of cheer back into her voice as best she could. "They stole his greybox. It holds his memories and information on both of us. The 'will get you shot if you don't find it' kind. I kinda want to help you all but… Well, I haven't heard good things, and with the greybox missing…"

"We'll deal with it." Pyrrha promised firmly, resolute in her desire to help a kindred spirit. Turning to Zaeed she asked, quietly, "Who is it we need to speak to? I believe Doctor Solus-"

"We need muscle, not some uppity science boy." Zaeed grunted, "Penny, wait here with Goto. Nikos, you and I have someone that needs to get a good talkin' to. And I ain't about to be the one that does any of the talkin'."

"Why not…?"

"Because he'd punt my head off my shoulders like a missile out the damn launcher, that's why." The old mercenary grumbled, turning and giving her little choice but to follow him. Two long strides and she'd caught up in time to hear him grumble, "Gotta get on down to Engineering and figure out how the damn thing works first, though…"

"What thing?"

"You'll see." He sighed, "And goes how I think it oughta, everyone on the goddamn ship'll feel it, too."

That did very little to inspire confidence in her, to say the least. But, with a resigned sigh, she followed Zaeed up and into the mostly empty ship. At least no one asked them what on Remnant they were doing. She doubted she could come up with a very convincing answer, or that Zaeed had even thought that far. Which was just another very reassuring thing to have to think about indeed.

As she stepped into the elevator, though, she had a thought and blinked, "Wait, Zaeed, you don't mean the-"

"Yep." He grunted, drawing a little Omni-Blade and looking it over. "Glad you finally caught on to the damn game, Nikos. In the mood to wrestle another Krogan? Least I don't think this'n is a Biotic like the last."

"Honestly?" She couldn't help the grin that spread out on her lips, "That does sound like a fun way to end the evening, yes."

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Joe Cola :

I don't hand out spoilers so no special PMs from me~

Also, I, uh, haven't decided exactly, what will happen. .

And good luck with your own story, too! Take your time and enjoy it, first and foremost. Practice will come naturally and soon, you'll be writing just as well as anyone. No worries!

Reven 228 :

I have plans in my brain aout Shepard and this whole situation, no worries.

Australian Dealer :

Every villain in my stories, bar a few, has a sympathy card to them, if you get my meaning. S'kinda a thing for me, I like the layers. And my words don't inspire confidence? Good. They shouldn't. :D

Foxcomm :

Das some good luck, yeah!