Chapter 4 - And Playing The Part Of Human Damsel...
In This Edition Of Fornax:
Pictorial & Interview - Adria S'Voz, getting more action than ever at 500: 'Doing my own stunts as Commander Shi'Paard has put me in the best shape of my career!'
Biotic stripping - Undress them with your eyes & your mind!
Popping the thermal clip - Tales from turian bootcamp!
Dr. Solus Advises - Dextro-amino acids & ingestion: What you *need* to know!
Pictorial - Pilgrimage Girls (And Guys!) Gone Wild: Quarians share their clean room selfies!
Jacana strode across the Presidium, barely keeping herself from breaking into a run as she bee-lined for the Westerlund News building, cursing Quet under her breath.
That damn salarian's greed had caused them both enough trouble in the past but this was a whole new level. Had the idiot not realized the danger he was putting Khalisah in when he decided to tell half the fucking galaxy she was trying to bring Aria T'Loak down? Or had he just not cared?
Ordinarily she would have been angrier with him, but right now she was too worried about Khalisah. If – or rather when – this got back to T'Loak, Khalisah would be a dead woman. Jacana didn't even know if there was a way back for her, would dropping the story be enough? Assuming, of course, that some miracle took place and Jacana actually managed to persuade her to drop it. Deep down, she knew better than to hope. Once Khalisah got her eye on something she was like a varren with a fresh bone.
Jacana honestly had no idea what she was going to do or say once she reached Westerlund News. Her plan extended as far as barging into Khalisah's office and making sure the human hadn't already been killed. What happened after that was anyone's guess. Right now, all she cared about was reaching her.
She jogged up the steps and through the mains doors of the building, entering a bustling reception area. Westerlund News was a human enterprise and was staffed almost exclusively by humans, yet most of them still ignored her as she crossed the room and strode up to the desk, flashing the young, dark-skinned human man behind it her best smile.
"Good morning!" she beamed, disguising her growing agitation behind a casual cheeriness as she flashed him her card, "Jacana Aragem, I have a meeting with Khalisah al-Jilani in five minutes," she claimed without hesitation. That alone might be enough to get her into Khalisah's office without any questions. Sometimes simply acting like you had every right to be somewhere was enough to convince people all was well.
If he did actually bother to check the day's appointments, she was sure she could sweet talk him into believing the computer system must be wrong. And if he ended up calling Khalisah to double check, all the better, there was no way Khalisah would turn her away.
Admittedly, their previous meeting hadn't gone very smoothly but that seemed like an age ago now. They may have parted on bad terms but two people couldn't go through what Khalisah and Jacana had gone through together and just cut each other out of their lives. All she needed to do was get the chance to speak to her.
However, the receptionist just sat there, his large brown eyes blinking at the blue & green-hued asari standing before him. Just when she was beginning to wonder if he had heard her, he suddenly snapped his fingers, his face animating, "Now I remember!" he exclaimed while flashing a broad grin. "Jacana Aragem, you're the girlfriend, right? From a few months ago? I knew I recognized the name!"
Jacana frowned, "Er, you've heard my name recently?"
"About an hour ago," he explained, "I had just started filling in for the regular receptionist when Miss al-Jilani stormed through here with a face like an elcor's backside and said, 'If Jacana Aragem turns up and says she has a meeting with me, don't let her in'." The young human delivered the line in an exaggerated parody of Khalisah's stern 'I mean business' voice while also mimicking the human journalist's glare and the stabbing finger motion she would often make when agitated. Under other circumstances, Jacana might have found the whole routine funny.
"What!?" the asari demanded, a sting of hurt briefly overriding her annoyance, "Of all the ridiculous, petty…" she trailed off before she said too much out loud. She needn't have bothered, the receptionist was too busy speaking over her to notice.
"As I recall," he drolly added, "you had quite a few meetings with her back then. They always overran and then she'd be really happy for the rest of the day. Mm-hmm..."
He gave Jacana a knowing smile that made her frown incredulously. The meetings in question had been during the time when Khalisah was busy sorting through the logistical nightmare that was Donovan Hock's estate. Jacana had occasionally had useful information for her and had visited her office to pass it along. But nothing at all untoward had gone on as the young man seemed to be suggesting. The reason their meetings overran was because they would get talking and soon hours turned to minutes.
The memories brought with them a strange melancholy, it made their disastrous reunion all the more confusing.
"Listen," she said, leaning forward across the desk, "Whatever Khalisah's said, it's really important that I speak to her."
"Oh, I am cheering for team blue, girlfriend," the human insisted. "Or, in your case, team aquamarine. Everyone else here at Westerlund News is also rooting for you two to work it out. She was so much easier to work with when you were around. Much nicer, almost friendly. Miss al-Jilani even smiled at me once. She managed to go a whole week without making any of the interns cry. One day she came in, looked me right in the eye and she said, 'Good morning, Dylan.' I don't think I even realized she knew my name until then."
A strange, wistful looked glazed across the man's brown eyes and Jacana sighed, "Listen, Dylan," she began tactfully, "I just need to speak with her. We've been having a few…" she leaned in conspiratorially, as though this were for his ears only, "personal problems. I just want to surprise her, try and make things right. You understand?"
"Babe," he stated bluntly, also leaning forward, "I've already told you, I'm on your side. But I can't help you. Miss al-Jilani left an hour ago."
"What? To go where?" Jacana demanded.
"The set for that new Blasto vid. She said something about doing a segment with one of the crew. I think his name was-"
Jacana didn't stop to hear any more as she turned and bolted for the door.
Khalisah entered the set of Blasto with a confidant stride, being sure to mask the tingle of trepidation she felt. The set was massive. They were filming on location and had cordoned off a large section of the Presidium to film the action scenes for the battle of the Citadel.
She'd been reliably informed that filming hadn't actually started yet and this was nothing more than the basic set-up and rehearsals. Even so, the sheer number of people on set was more than a little jarring. Crewmembers, mostly turians, asari and volus, stood in groups, debating camera angles or script changes while between them interns and assistants ran to and fro, carrying datapads, equipment and refreshments.
Props had been added to the Presidium so that it resembled a battlefield. Crashed skycars and fallen debris littered the set and huge scaffolding and rigging had been constructed, presumably for the multiple stunts that were to be carried out. Khalisah couldn't miss the actual fires that were burning, filling the air with the scent of smoke that caught in her throat. It brought back eerie memories of the real geth attack.
It was unsettling. Khalisah had been not far from that very spot when the real Battle of the Citadel had started. Though she would never admit it, the memories still haunted her some days and she was not eager to relive them.
Keen not to let her unease show, she strode confidently through the chaos with her video drone hovering behind her and enough purpose in her stride to suggest she had every right to be there. And for once, she actually did.
After her reunion with Jacana, Khalisah had realized sources weren't the way to go with this. Where Aria T'Loak was concerned people were always going to be tight-lipped, either because there was too much money involved or because they were worried about ending up dead in a gutter for talking.
She needed to get on the set if she wanted to find clues as to what was really going on. But she knew her usual method of lying or bribing her way past security and then finding out as much as she could before getting thrown out wasn't going to cut it this time. That was when she remembered her interview with Dar Rarbin, 6th Dimension Vid's stunt coordinator, at the premier of the previous Blasto vid.
It had been brief, but she remembered him offering her stunt work if she ever wanted it. She hadn't planned on ever taking him up on the offer but Westerlund News liked to run these 'behind the scenes' segments sometimes where reporters would try their hand at some obscure profession, shining a light on that particular industry. It usually involved the reporter in question making a total fool of themselves for the entertainment of the viewers but Khalisah wasn't above it if it meant getting access to the set.
All it had taken was a few emails sent to 6th Dimension Vids and her own boss and she had quickly managed to organize a second interview with Dar Rarbin, during which she would be participating in some practice stunts for the vid.
"I've got some ideas I want to try out for possible scenes in the vid," Rarbin had emailed to her, "You'll be the perfect test subject!"
It wasn't the most encouraging invite she had ever received but, needs must.
As she crossed the set looking for the turian stunt coordinator, she spotted a few faces she recognized. There was a group of the asari actresses who played the commandos. They were all in costume and seemed to be rehearsing lines while the drell director, Bik Orbal, stood nearby studying a datapad and occasionally nodding or interrupting them.
Khalisah couldn't help but wonder if any of the asari were working for T'Loak. The self-proclaimed 'Queen of Omega' seemed to hold a strange place of respect among her people. Khalisah had always found it odd the way some young asari seemed to idolize her, like she was a role model and not simply a petty crime boss like all the others.
Whatever Aria was up to, she had to have spies on set and the asari were at the top of Khalisah's list of suspects. The director was worth keeping an eye on too. After all, this was his set. What were the odds he knew nothing?
Her thoughts were broken by an enthusiastic voice calling out to her her. "Miss El Jill-Annie!" it shouted. Khalisah looked over to see Dar Rarbin waving at her. The turian was surrounded by several stunt mechs, all designed to look like geth. She decided not to correct his mispronunciation of her name. No point in making this anymore awkward than it is, she thought.
"I was so thrilled to get your email," the turian began, taking her hand in both of his and shaking it vigorously, before leading her over to the stunt set, "When I gave you my card, I honestly didn't expect you to take me up on the offer. Not many people do."
"I'm always up for a challenge," Khalisah told him.
"A-ha!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together, "Perhaps we're kindred spirits! So, how does this segment of yours work?"
She explained that she would set up her own video drone, start with a short intro, then they would film the stunt scene and she would end with an interview with Rarbin himself. The presence of her own video drone was really a ploy, however. While all the studio cameras would be trained on the stunt scene, no one would notice her drone doing a three-hundred-and-sixty degree sweep of the set, hopefully picking up anything dodgy she herself might miss.
"Excellent, excellent," the turian remarked, nodding in a way that suggested he was only half listening and clearly eager to get filming. "You'll be happy to hear that I've devised the perfect stunt for you. I'm even hoping it'll make it into the final edit. You will be playing the part of…" he paused dramatically, "human damsel!"
Khalisah raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
He ignored her. "The scene begins with you cowering behind this bench," he said, gesturing to a nearby park bench, "then a group of geth surrounds you. You deliver a bloodcurdling scream and run towards the edge." He pointed to where the Presidium safety rail had been removed and replaced with an identical, half destroyed version, leaving nothing to stop someone from falling to the street below.
"You jump!" he continued. "You hurtle towards the ground, only to be courageously rescued!"
Khalisah waited for further elaboration, when none came she raised an eyebrow. "By who?"
Before Rarbin could respond, Adria S'Voz breezed around the corner, a fake rifle slung over her shoulder as she fiddled with the straps on her commando costume.
"Can we make this quick, Rarbin?" she stated, not bothering with greetings. "I've got rehearsals with Tyruss in an hour and you know what a stickler he is for time keeping." She looked up, spotted Khalisah and gave her a pleasant nod. "Ms al-Jilani, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Khalisah did her best not to stare. This was more luck than she could have hoped for. If anyone was in on Aria's plans it was S'Voz. And here she was, standing right in front of her. Khalisah's mind was in overdrive trying to figure out how to make the most of this opportunity but outwardly all she did was offer the asari a smile.
"Ms S'Voz," she said, "I had no idea you had agreed to be part of the segment."
Adria shrugged. "I need the practice, I've got a lot of stunts coming up in this vid."
"Will you also be participating in the interview afterwards?" Khalisah asked.
The asari waved the suggestion away. "This is Rarbin's time in the spotlight, I'm just an extra today."
"Even so," Khalisah pressed, "I know you've both worked together for a long time. You could give a fascinating insight into his work."
She saw a wry smile flicker at the corner of S'Voz's mouth but she didn't care that she was being transparent about trying to get the interview. As long as S'Voz didn't catch on to why she wanted it, the opportunity to talk to her was too good to pass up.
"We'll see," Adria replied.
"Now," Rarbin cut in, apparently keen to get moving, "the actual scene will be filmed over there," he explained, pointing to an area further along the edge of the thoroughfare. "The drop there is around 30 meters, give or take. But since you're a beginner and this is just a rehearsal, we'll be filming the jump from this section, which is only..." The turian peered over the edge, "... around 15 meters. Maybe 20. Just get up from behind the bench, dash away from the mechs and towards the edge, then fling yourself off it to the street below. You okay with that?"
Khalisah swallowed to suppress a lurch of dread but she didn't let that show, instead switching seamlessly to a pleasant smile. "Um, how exactly does S'Voz 'rescue' me?"
"I use my biotics to catch you in a singularity, I think," S'Voz chimed in. "That is it, right, Dar?"
Rarbin shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. Spirits, that won't look nearly dramatic enough. We need to have both of you in the shot. Your Commander Shi'Paard character sees the mechs chase her and runs to rescue her. You're coming at her from her left, running parallel to the edge. At the precise moment that Miss El Jill-Annie jumps, you do a biotic charge and catch her in your arms in mid-air! The mechs, unable to stop, fall over the edge but you and the human are safe, having reached an area further along the edge where the railing is undamaged."
The asari actress groaned. "A biotic charge?! Do you realize how fast I'll be moving?! I'll just be a blur! Besides, timing it right to catch the human is going to be tough. Especially from that angle. If I do it wrong, I could miss her completely. Or even slam into her myself."
Rarbin grinned and smacked his hands together. "That's what we hold these rehearsals for! To see if these concepts work! Remember, Adria, we've got to push the envelope for this vid. If the stunt doesn't look right in the playbacks, or you cannot get the timing right, then we figure something else out."
A cold sweat began to dot Khalisah's brow. "Excuse me, but what if Ms S'Voz doesn't catch me? She just said-"
The turian interrupted her with laugh and gave a dismissive wave of his talons. "It'll be fine. Under my tutoring, Adria here has become quite the stunt performer. She'll catch you. I have confidence in her skills. And it will look amazing, too!" he declared, his enthusiasm rising as he spoke. "On the off-chance she doesn't catch you, Miss El Jill-Annie, we do have contingencies."
Khalisah's anxiety grew. "Does that mean you are going to set up some inertial dampeners on the ground below? Or maybe some air mattresses?" she asked hopefully.
The asari shot Khalisah a bemused look while jabbing her thumb in Rarbin's direction. "By 'contingencies,' Dar here means 'medi-gel.' I found that out on Day 1 of shooting the Hunt for Saren." She turned back towards the turian. "I still think a singularity makes more sense."
Rarbin vigorously shook his head. "No. We shoot it with the biotic charge first," the turian declared. He turned to Khalisah, his eyes now beaming and his voice excited. "This is what makes 6th Dimension Vids' action scenes special: the realism. When you show your audience this footage, Miss El Jill-Annie, you'll be able to honestly say the look of terror on your face as you jumped wasn't acting."
Before Khalisah could get a word in, he shouted, "Everyone, get to your spots! Let's make some magic!"
Jacana sprinted all the way to the set of Blasto, her mind racing. There was only one reason Khalisah would have gone there and that was to look for leads for her damned story. Jacana shouldn't have been surprised. In her six hundred years of life she could honestly say she had never met anyone as doggedly determined or pigheadedly stubborn as that human.
She'd also never met a journalist with the nerve to go after Aria T'Loak. But, hey, why let a little thing like the threat of assassination from the most dangerous woman in the galaxy stop you from pursuing a story?
She cursed Khalisah under her breath as she approached the set, skidding to a halt in front of two turian security guards. One of them stepped forward, holding up a hand to stop her.
"Can I see your pass, please?" he enquired. She didn't have time to charm her way in.
"Out of my way you idiot!" she snapped. "I'm supposed to be on set right now!"
The two turians exchanged uncertain glances. "I'm sorry, I can't let you in until I see your-"
"Do you know who you're talking to?" she stepped forward, abruptly grabbing him by the collar. "I am Adria S'Voz's stunt double! What's she going to say when she finds out she was kept waiting because you wouldn't let me through?"
"Erm…" the turian hesitated, then quickly nodded, "Of course, go on through."
Jacana didn't let her relief show as she barged past him, thanking the Goddess that had actually worked. She found herself momentarily disoriented by the chaotic bustle of the set as she emerged onto it. There were a lot of people but a scant number of humans. Khalisah would stand out, surely? That was assuming that Aria's people hadn't already bundled her off somewhere.
She tried not to think like that as she weaved between groups of extras and tried to look like she was meant to be there. Khalisah would be here somewhere, all she had to do was find her. And after that… well, she was sure she'd think of something.
Khalisah crouched behind the bench, cursing the lengths she was willing to go to for a story. It was worth noting that during the actual battle of the Citadel she had been on the front lines broadcasting live updates. She had captured some of the most famous footage of the geth attack. She had deliberately sought out the worst affected areas to get the story out. It was her live reporting that had helped some of the rescue teams identify those most in need. Even after the battle was over she had carried on, not sleeping for nearly three days.
Throughout it all she had never stopped, she had never cowered, and she had certainly never screamed. She had also been more terrified than at any other point in her entire life but she'd never admit that to anyone out loud.
Now that she thought about it, the very fact such a horrific event was being dramatized for the amusement of an audience was a little sickening. But now wasn't the time for that.
"Ready?" Dar Rarbin shouted, then, without waiting for a reply, "Action!"
The geth-mechs began to shamble their way towards her and, suppressing a sigh, Khalisah stood and prepared to scream. Before she got the chance, she heard something else being bellowed out across the whole set, silencing everyone. It took her a moment to realize it was her own name.
"KHALISAAAAAAH!" someone yelled and she turned just as something slammed into her, pushing her out of the way of the mechs so that she smacked hard into the floor. As pain shot up her back, the familiar scent of musk and leather filled her nostrils and she looked up to see Jacana crouching over her.
The asari immediately spun around, her eyes falling on the mechs – still performing their preprogramed steps even without Khalisah there to play her part – then Dar Rarbin, Adria S'Voz and, finally, the camera mechs. For a moment she frowned, seemingly confused then she looked down at Khalisah.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Are you INSANE!" Khalisah shot back, "What the HELL are you doing here?" she was aware of how loud her own voice sounded and realized the entire set had gone silent, the spectacle being enough to draw the attention of everyone. Dozens of 6th Dimension Vids crewmembers stared at the pair. Adria, who had been standing off to the side waiting for her cue, was peering at them with particular interest.
Jacana was still looking perplexed as she gazed around at the scene. "What exactly is going on here?" she enquired.
Before Khalisah could answer, Dar Rarbin quickly ran over. "Oh, that was brilliant!" he exclaimed. "Better than anything we had planned! Not sure we had the camera angles right though. Would you be willing to do another take?" The turian turned to S'Voz and shouted, "I hope you caught all of that, 'cause that's exactly how I want you to catch her when she does the jump!"
As he looked expectantly between them, Khalisah heard herself growl in annoyance. Pushing Jacana off her she quickly got back to her feet, then grabbed the asari by the hand and pulled her away out of earshot.
She straightened out her dress and flicked back a loose lock of hair in an attempt to regain some dignity before finally rounding on the asari. "What was that?" she demanded, gesturing to the set where Dar Rarbin was busy re-watching the footage, nodding enthusiastically at the result. Adria, meanwhile, continued to stare at them both, not bothering to hide her interest or her amusement.
The rest of the set had gone back to their work, albeit a little more subdued than before. Khalisah was painfully aware of the glances still being thrown in their direction.
"I'm sorry," Jacana stated, "I was worried about you."
Khalisah frowned at her, the anger rising. "That doesn't explain why you decided to sabotage my interview!"
"Sabotage?" Jacana questioned, her demeanor quickly shifting from apologetic to incredulous but Khalisah didn't buy it. She hadn't believed for one moment that Jacana knew nothing about T'Loak and she wasn't convinced the asari wouldn't sabotage her investigation if the Shadow Broker told her to. The question was, were Aria and the Shadow Broker working together these days? And by extension, was Jacana now working for Aria?
"I see your time on Earth hasn't robbed you of your paranoia," Jacana scowled, folding her arms and shaking her head. "I would normally be insulted that you honestly think I would do that to you but I'm too busy worrying about you getting yourself killed!"
Khalisah rolled her eyes. "It's only a stunt scene."
Jacana took an abrupt step closer, bringing them within inches of each other. It took Khalisah aback and for a moment she faltered. If Jacana noticed she didn't show it, instead continuing in a lower tone, "I'm talking about the expose you're running on T'Loak," she hissed urgently, "that's why you're really here, isn't it? Looking for leads? T'Loak is dangerous, if she thinks you're sniffing around her operation she'll want to shut you up. When I saw you cowering behind that bench surrounded by mechs – and Adria S'Voz of all people – I thought…"
She trailed off and Khalisah frowned, "You thought that Aria T'Loak had decided to have me killed in broad daylight, on a film set, surrounded by cameras recording the whole thing?" she asked, quirking a brow.
Jacana sighed, "Yes, well, if you knew T'Loak's reputation better... Look, thinking rationally isn't something I'm good at when you're involved," she admitted, her green eyes taking on an almost bashful look as a gentle silence fell between them. Khalisah had to bite her lip to keep a wry smile from forming on her lips. She remembered Jacana's protectiveness all too well from their time together. From anyone else it would have infuriated her but for some reason, with Jacana, she had enjoyed it.
"Drop the story," Jacana implored quietly, "Please."
Khalisah felt a pang of irritation wiping away her moment of sentimentality. "Why?" she challenged. "Is that what the Shadow Broker wants?"
Jacana sighed desperately. "I wasn't lying to you, Khalisah. I don't know what T'Loak is doing here and the Sha-, uhh... that is, my employer has nothing to do with this," she replied in a hushed voice. "I'm asking you to drop the case because it's putting you in danger and I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you. It scares me."
Khalisah took a step back, suspicion prickling at her skin. It was a trick. It had to be. Jacana knew exactly what to say to her, which was what made her the perfect agent for the Shadow Broker to send. On the other hand, if she was telling the truth…
"Ms al-Jilani?" Adria's voice interrupted. Khalisah glanced around to see the asari actress sauntering over, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. "Is this woman troubling you?" she enquired. Khalisah couldn't help but notice she now had two turian security guards flanking her on either side. They were same ones Jacana had bluffed her way past earlier.
Jacana opened her mouth to speak but before she could, S'Voz cut her off. "These men tell me you're here as my stunt double," she stated to Jacana, nodding at the guards before placing one hand on her hip and scrutinizing Jacana carefully. "But anyone who had done an ounce of research would be able to tell you that I do all my own stunts. I'd suggest using a better cover story next time." S'Voz gave the guards a sharp gesture and they stepped forward, grabbing Jacana by both arms. The asari didn't resist, instead sighing heavily as she was dragged away.
"Khalisah!" she shouted across the set, "Think about what I said! Please!"
As she disappeared from view, Khalisah found herself face-to-face with Adria S'Voz. "So..." the asari actress began, her face darkening, "What's this about an expose you're running?"