Chapter 27 - Something For Nothing
Citadel Newsnet – Investigators in the probe into potential cheating at Armax Arsenal Arena have been unable to determine the real identity of a top scorer who went by the name of "Shifty Cow." The individual regularly scored in the top ten but no one recalls seeing the competitor and all footage of their matches is missing. All of the person's winnings were routed to an account that was registered to Ontarom, an uncolonized planet in the Kepler Verge that is home only to wildlife. – Emily Wong reporting
"Is there a problem, miss?" asked the owner of the sonic drycleaning store, a middle-aged human male with a casual attitude.
The lavender-hued asari standing before him in tight dark slacks and a matching top folded her arms and rolled her eyes before grunting out a simple, "yes."
"Well, what is the issue?" replied the human, doing little to conceal his boredom.
The asari sneered and held out an article of child's clothing, a small white leather jacket, and waved it front of the human's face. "The issue is the job you did on cleaning and repairing this."
The human took the item and turned it around in his hands. "I'm not sure what the issue could be, miss. We fixed the tear and cleaned the fabric as you requested. It should look quite eye-catching on your daughter."
"It's not my daughter's," hissed the asari. "It's mine."
"Oh, a memento of your youth then?" the human asked, remaining nonchalant despite the asari's increasingly irritated attitude.
"No," the asari declared through gritted teeth. "It's my CURRENT favorite jacket. The one I usually wear."
"Really? Well, how did you fit into it then?" the human inquired.
The sneer on the asari's face transformed into an angry snarl. "It was easy before you shrank it!" she growled.
The human dismissively shook his head. "Oh, I'm afraid that's not possible, miss. Our cleaning methods are guaranteed not to cause the fabrics or materials to contract," he confidently explained. "You probably accidentally gave us your daughter's jacket to—"
A purple corona of biotic energy manifested itself around the asari. "Don't even try to talk your way out of this!" the now-seething alien declared. "You are going to restore my jacket to its previous size. You are going to do it right now. And you're going to do it for no extra charge."
The store owner held his ground, wagging a finger at the asari as he spoke. "Ma'am, I'm *certain* that if you just went home and looked through your closets and drawers thoroughly, you would find—" the human condescendingly insisted.
"What part of what I just said was unclear?!" snarled the asari, who caught the human in singularity, causing him to drift upwards towards the store's ceiling. She shouted to the human, "What's your species' phrase? 'Were you dropped on your head as a child?' Let's test that out and see if a drop from this height can do any further damage, shall we?!"
The human, now suddenly panicked, cried out, "Please! Stop! I'll alter the jacket! Just let me down!"
The asari complied, allowing the human to slowly levitate back to the ground. "Please, there's no need for any further biotics," the human declared in-between gasping breaths. "I'll expand the jacket to adult size. But, umm, I'll, uh... I will need to take your measurements first, Ms. S'Voz. To ensure it fits properly, you see."
The asari said nothing in response, instead maintaining her corona of biotic energy and continuing to glower at the shop owner. After several long seconds, she allowed the energy to fade. "Goddess, your species really tests me," she told the human. "Fine. Take 'Adria S'Voz's' measurements. Just be quick about it."
Aria T'Loak, clad once again in her signature white leather jacket, strode into the suite of hotel rooms that served as her base of operations in exile. She immediately noticed an anxious mood among the henchmen in the room, several of them were in small groups whispering to each other. As T'Loak wondered what was going on, Bray, her batarian lieutenant, approached her.
"Boss, we had an unusual visitor while you were out," the henchman explained. "A volus who said he had to talk to you. He claimed to be here on behalf of the Shadow Broker and that he had urgent information on Khalisah al-Jilani! He said he was only authorized to talk to you about it. He's waiting over in the next room right now."
T'Loak nodded slowly. "Okay, then. I'll speak to him in my private room."
One minute later, Bray ushered the volus into T'Loak's room. As the batarian closed the door on them, the volus extended his hand to T'Loak. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss T'Loak. Barla Von, financial advisor and, it now seems, messenger for the Shadow Broker," he announced in-between the characteristic heavy breathing facilitated by his exosuit. T'Loak gave the volus' hand a quick shake and gestured for him to take a seat. "Thank you," said Von as he slowly waddled towards the chair.
T'Loak eyed Von closely. The volus was well-known to have numerous shady connections including the Shadow Broker, so she was willing to take his claim at face value. The broker could hardly have chosen a less threatening intermediary. That was probably intentional, T'Loak mused. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" she finally asked.
"An odd but fortuitous bit of information has come the Shadow Broker's way, something that places both of you in an unusual position," Von began. "For that reason, the broker has decided to break with standard protocol and provide it to you free of charge."
T'Loak nodded in response as if the announcement was of little surprise. "Go on," she blandly requested. Behind the calm façade her mind was racing as she tried to make sense of the volus' announcement. What was it about this information that would make the galaxy's most notorious information broker give it away for free?
"First, some context: the broker knows of your plans to invade Omega and take it back from Cerberus," the volus continued. "The broker has no interest in interfering with those plans, so that information has not been sold. Nor will it be. The broker has decided that Cerberus is a… disruptive presence in the galaxy that needs to be reined in. The broker would therefore welcome your success."
T'Loak made her best effort to give no obvious reaction to the volus' announcement. She nevertheless flinched.
"The broker would not have informed you that it knew of your plans," the volus explained. "However, he - Or perhaps she? Or maybe it? Even I don't know the answer to that - was recently contacted by a… known associate of Khalisah al-Jilani's who claimed to be speaking on the human reporter's behalf. It would appear that al-Jilani is, shall we say, confused regarding the relationship between the broker's operation and yours. Namely, the human believes you and the broker have an alliance. What's more, al-Jilani believes that that alliance has put out a contract on her life."
The asari's head swam as she tried to take all of this in. "Wait, you say al-Jilani thinks we *jointly* ordered a hit on her?!"
Von nodded. "Yes. Or at any rate that is what I was told by the broker to relate to you," the volus clarified. "I have been further authorized to tell you that the broker has no interest in seeing al-Jilani harmed and has therefore made no independent action in that regard. As to what you and your organization may or may not be planning regarding al-Jilani, that is entirely your business. Again, the broker has no cause to interfere with your activities."
T'Loak held up a hand, motioning the volus to pause. "What caused al-Jilani to think I was working with the Shadow Broker?"
Von shrugged. "I do not know. If the Shadow Broker knows, that information was not shared with me," the volus explained, adding, "That human is known to be paranoid and anti-alien. Perhaps she believes we all work together in some vast conspiracy against her species? That is pure speculation on my part, however."
The volus took a pair of heavy breaths and continued. "In any event, the broker did not bother to correct al-Jilani's misunderstanding. It may yet be advantageous. You see, the reason why the reporter's intermediary contacted the broker in the first place was to offer a deal: in exchange for canceling the presumed contract on her life, the reporter would abandon publishing a long-planned, heavily-researched story about you, Miss T'Loak. Al-Jilani evidently believed that contacting the broker with this deal was effectively the same as reaching out to you directly."
"I see..." T'Loak remarked, again struggling to retain a placid demeanor as she pondered the information. "Yes... This is an... intriguing offer." She contemplated the volus, hoping to glean some further information from him. It was for naught. Volus exosuits completely covered their owners' faces and their voice modulators gave them all the same vocal inflections, making it all-but impossible to read their expressions. It was part of what made the volus such savvy businessmen and presumably one reason why the broker was using Von as a messenger. "Okay, you've given me al-Jilani's offer. Is the Shadow Broker making one of their own?" the gangster queen inquired.
"As it happens, I have been further authorized to tell you that, if you wish, the broker is willing to convey to al-Jilani that you accept the reporter's offer: cease publication in exchange for canceling the supposed contract on her life," the volus announced. "This message, incidentally, need not correct any of the reporter's misperceptions. If, speaking hypothetically, you have not created any such contract, it is not necessary to tell al-Jilani this. Or the Shadow Broker, for that matter. Also, the broker vows to the keep the response to al-Jilani confidential."
T'Loak pretended that she was thinking the offer over. In reality, it was exactly what she wanted: getting the whole awkward business of the reporter's long-planned expose out of the way and with minimum messiness. It seemed too good to be true. That was the problem, in fact.
"Tell the human that Aria T'Loak has always believed in leaving people alone provided they extend her the same courtesy," the asari announced. "However, she also prefers more direct communication on these matters. There are too many layers of removal right now and therefore too many opportunities for miscommunication for this to be a deal she can accept. Therefore, Aria T'Loak will require further assurances provided in a more direct manner before she commits to anything."
Von gave a single courteous nod. "I will convey the message," he announced and hopped out of the chair. He waddled towards the door, then paused and added, "On an unrelated note, if you happen to be in need of any investment-related services, I would be happy to offer my assistance in that regard. For a nominal fee, of course."
T'Loak gave a slow nod in response. "Rest assured, you'll be the first I reach out to."
"Thank you," Von replied. "Enjoy the rest of the day, Miss T'Loak."
As soon as the volus had left, T'Loak shouted to her team, "Get Dalatrass Linron on the line! Immediately!"
"Big news, boss?" Bray asked.
"Yes," the gangster queen declared. "And possibly something pretty rare these days: good news."
Khalisah smoothed out the satin sheets on the freshly made bed and felt a smile twitch at the corners of her mouth. She had awoken in Jacana's arms that morning, warm bare skin pressed tight against her back, soft familiar breath in her ear. Their clothes hadn't stayed on for long, in truth it had only taken one kiss from the asari for Khalisah to lose herself.
The first time that night had been… clumsy, as desperate as it was intense. Khalisah had been devastated to realise how much she had forgotten, the taste of Jacana's tongue in her mouth, the alien texture of her skin, the way the asari's eyes glimmered brightly right before they turned black. The sudden realisation of what she had nearly thrown away through her own stubbornness had made her a frantic lover, unable to hold Jacana tight enough, or kiss her deeply enough.
She wasn't sure exactly how many times they had dozed off and woken through the night, only that each time was distinctly different from the last. She remembered Jacana gently bringing her to her climax as she danced the line between sleep and wakefulness, the asari cradling her from behind and nuzzling against her neck. She remembered pinning her lover down against the sheets and ravaging her hungrily as she explored the distantly familiar contours of her body.
From dusk till dawn, they hadn't uttered a single word as they rediscovered one another but it wasn't until the small hours of the morning that Jacana had finally melded with her, turning physical pleasure to something deeper.
Khalisah had held back at first, scared to let Jacana know the depths of her paranoia over the past few weeks and all the awful things she had let herself think and believe. But she never really wanted to keep anything from Jacana. It was one the things she had always found most perplexing about their relationship – why did she want this asari to know all her secrets?
Even now she didn't know the answer but, for whatever reason, she had let Jacana in and they had tumbled into the depths of each other's minds together. Anything that had needed to be said was said there, in the world that existed only between them. After that they had slept, dancing through each other's dreams until the meld finally faded and they had awoken together.
Khalisah's thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice said "Keelah Se'lai," into the door's intercom. She tapped the 'open' button and Jacana walked into the apartment carrying a large bag in both arms.
A wafting aroma from the bag immediately grabbed Khalisah's attention. "Is that...?"
"Your favorite? Yes!" Jacana announced. "Fried Earth marine life and sliced root vegetables with hot relish dressing. One of the advantages of melding minds is you can learn your partner's likes and dislikes and can surprise them later on."
Khalisah opened one of the bags and inhaled deeply. "Mmm, I'd forgotten how good this smells when it's still hot," she declared, adding, "If you'd melded just a little longer you might have learned that we humans refer to this delicacy as 'fish n' chips with curry sauce.' It's one of the things I've rarely had since moving to the Citadel, Earth fish being so expensive here."
Jacana laid out two containers and some disposable utensils on the apartment's largest table. "I decided it was worth it. We have something to celebrate: the Shadow Broker and Aria T'Loak are both willing to deal. We still have to hammer out the details, but once we do, you'll get the hit called off and I'll get amnesty from the broker. Pretty soon, we'll be safe."
Khalisah said nothing. The suddenly darkened expression on her face said it for her.
Jacana sighed and reached out a hand to caress the human's face. "I know this isn't easy for you. But it is the best solution," she remarked. "Remember: you're not actually giving in. You're out-smarting them. You're getting your freedom back by giving them something that doesn't even exist - and without them ever even realizing this! That IS the truth!"
Khalisah nuzzled the asari's hand. "I know," she whispered. "It's... just that... It's been ALL over the Citadel that I'm working on an expose on T'Loak... Regardless of what the truth is, people will think I caved in to threats... That's just as bad."
Jacana reached her hand further back, slowly running it through Khalisah's black tresses. The human closed her eyes and uttered a soft, barely audible, "Ohhh..." as she felt the tips of the asari's fingers brush along the side of her head.
"You don't have a story to run anyway, so some people are bound to think that no matter what else you do. In any event, we know the truth," Jacana whispered. "There'll be opportunities in the future to let everyone know what really happened. I promise. Until then... Well, it's just our little secret."
Khalisah nodded, then took a single chip and dipped it into a cup of curry sauce. She tasted it and smiled. "The proper way to eat these is walking down a boardwalk with your arm around your lover," she noted. "Remind me to show you as soon as we can risk being in public."
"Meet me at Purgatory," was all the message said. Coming from Aria 'Loak, it wasn't really a request. So Adria S'Voz changed out of her Commander Shi'Paard costume and into a more appropriate dress for a nightclub as soon as the current scene she was filming for the Blasto vid was finished.
It was with some trepidation that S'Voz entered the club. While she was one of the select few that T'Loak had allowed into her inner circle, their relationship had never been one of equals. S'Voz had long admired the gangster queen of the Terminus Systems, but the queen herself had little interest in show business and had never indicated that she was impressed with the actress' stature in the vid industry. T'Loak sometimes treated S'Voz as if she was a just another one of her Omega henchmen and occasionally even ordered the vid star around. Was this going to be another one of those times, S'Voz wondered? Had T'Loak summoned her because she had some menial task in mind?
And yet T'Loak could also be generous, even protective, towards S'Voz. The actress' career stalled for years due to typecasting following the success of Vaenia. After S'Voz casually mentioned to T'Loak one evening that she was competing with several other actresses for the Commander Shi'Paard role in Blasto: The Hunt for Saren, the actress' rivals for the part suddenly began having second thoughts and dropping out of contention one-by-one. S'Voz never asked T'Loak any questions about what she may have done, figuring it was better not to know. Shortly after the Blasto vid began shooting, T'Loak agreed to a biopic being made about her life on the condition that S'Voz be cast as her. No one else would do. S'Voz wasn't even aware of this arrangement until after the producers had approached her. The success of both vids completely revitalized her career. All of this was, apparently, just T'Loak's way of being a friend.
S'Voz found T'Loak lounging on a small couch in the VIP section of Purgatory. The actress was surprised to see a nearly-empty bottle of wine on the table in front of T'Loak. The gangster queen was usually only a moderate drinker. She loathed the idea of losing control and so would typically nurse a single drink for a long time. Tonight was clearly different.
"Well, finally!" T'Loak loudly announced as S'Voz approached. "You gonna tell me you were mobbed by autograph seekers on your way in?!"
"I had to finish shooting a scene," the actress explained. "You know, my job?"
"What... ever," T'Loak mumbled as she drained the remainder of her current glass. She looked up and noticed that S'Voz was still standing expectantly in front of her. "Goddess, will you sit the fuck down and relax already?!"
"Sorry," S'Voz muttered as she took a plush chair opposite the asari gangster. As she settled in, a waiter arrived with a second bottle of wine and poured her a glass. "I was just waiting for you to tell me what this was all about."
T'Loak looked upward and rolled her eyes. "About? About?! This is about me inviting you to join me here in Purgatory for a drink, you posh, uptight... daughter of an elcor, you. What, Aria T'Loak can't do that?!" She leaned forward and waved a finger in front of the actress. "She can. Why? 'Cause nobody fucks with Aria." She leaned back onto her couch. "Don't you forget that."
S'Voz brushed off the 'elcor' crack and tasted the wine. It was a special asari-made brand that was about twice as alcoholic as most other wine. "What happened to put you in this state?" she inquired.
T'Loak leaned forward again and motioned for S'Voz to refill her glass. "To the brim," she ordered. After a long drink she continued, "I've finally dealt with that primitive al-Jilani! The biggest remaining obstacle to launching my plans is gone."
"Oh, so we're celebrating then?" S'Voz replied. "Where'd you hide the -No! Wait, wait! DON'T tell me any details. It's better that way."
"Ha!" chortled T'Loak. "Is that what you think? Well, I'll have you know that I didn't do that... this time. No, I used diplomacy." The gangster took another sip of her wine. "It was simple: we cut a deal. Actually, we haven't finalized it yet. So it's not a deal. Not yet. More like an 'understanding.' But an understanding that both sides want... See, I can be subtle like the matriarchs too, you know..."
"And how do you know al-Jilani sees it the same way?" S'Voz cautiously asked.
T'Loak reclined back in her chair. "Because al-Jilani made the first move. SHE made the offer. You don't do that if you think you hold the cards..." She stretched her arms and gave a contented sigh. She followed that with another sip from the glass.
S'Voz shrugged. "Let me guess: the deal was 'You don't publish and I don't kill you'? Was that about it?"
T'Loak grinned and humorously shook her head. "You're half-right. My allies have forbidden me from harming that human, remember? Too politically risky, they think. Of course, al-Jilani doesn't need to know that..." The gangster's smirk grew wider. "That's the beauty of this: I'm getting what I want and all that I'm trading for it is the promise not to do something that I can't do anyway. I'm getting exactly what I want for nothing. It's the best kind of deal: one that benefits only me."
"Well, I'm happy for you then," S'Voz declared. She eased back in her chair and relaxed now that she realized T'Loak only wanted to celebrate. "I can't say that I am too surprised though. I had faith that you would turn this situation around. You always do, Aria," S'Voz asserted. Her tone grew more admiring as she continued. "I'm happy for the asari too. They need this. That is, they need you, Aria. The maidens need to know that what the matriarchs tell them isn't the only path. That there are other ways to make the galaxy respect our people. That we can demand respect."
T'Loak snorted with laughter. "Oh, really? So when you agreed to seduce al-Jilani earlier that was 'for the maidens' huh? So selfless of you..." she snickered. The actress scowled in response to the jibe. T'Loak rolled her eyes in return. "By the Goddess, loosen up, would you? I was only joking..." This did little to mollify the actress, who continued to glower at the gangster.
"Okay, okay: you deserve better than that," T'Loak slowly acknowledged. She took another long sip of wine and continued, "The truth is, Adria, you've been the only one who has stuck with me throughout all of this who wasn't either on my payroll or had some interest of their own in restoring Omega to my control. I... appreciate that." T'Loak took an even longer sip of her wine, nearly draining the glass. "To be blunt, the reason why I told you to join me here is because I... don't have anyone else that I can share a drink with."
S'Voz knew from experience that even this level of emotional honesty was quite difficult for T'Loak, so she opted to take the comments as an apology for the earlier joke and leave it at that. "Happy to share that drink," she replied. "And a few more after that. In fact, we might as well get one more bottle right now because this one won't last much longer at the rate you're going," she declared and began waving to their waiter. "Say, speaking of people you can share things with, whatever happened to that turian you were with?"
The question caused T'Loak's mood to swiftly darken. "Nyreen? She, umm, started having objections to some of my ... business activities. So we parted," she explained. "And that's all there is to say on that topic, understood?" S'Voz, realizing she had inadvertently touched a nerve, nodded in response.
T'Loak finished the remainder of her wine and pondered the empty glass for a few seconds. Her voice grew quieter and its tone became melancholy. "Why bother with the people who wouldn't stick with you even when the times are good?" she said somberly. "If these days in exile have taught me anything, it's that sometimes you have to put your pride aside and ask others for help. That's when you find out who your true allies are. And your true friends," she declared, adding softly, "Omega would be lost to me without their help."
As she finished speaking the waiter came by and placed a newly-opened bottle of wine on the table between them. S'Voz re-filled both of their glasses. "A toast then," the actress announced. "To the ornery, indomitable bitch that will make that Goddess-forsaken rock called Omega free once again and to the devious bastards who will help her do it. May they remind the galaxy of the hard truth: 'You don't fuck with Aria.'"
"Goddess, yes!" T'Loak exclaimed as they clinked glasses.
As S'Voz finished her sip, she saw that T'Loak was staring at her and mulling something over in her head. "You know, now that I think about it, 'Commander Shi'Paard,'" the gangster queen muttered, "I realize that there's one other person I should be reaching out to for help. A particular human..."
Blasto pressed his body against the stone wall near the stairway leading to the Council Chamber dais, smoking pistols in two of his six tentacles. "This One has ventured far to deliver this ultimatum: peacefully surrender, dishonored former Spectre Saren Arterius, for your cause is now lost."
Tyruss Aklaysius, in costume as Saren, rose upwards on an levitating platform and tossed a prop grenade at the hanar actor. A discreetly buried special effects charge near the vid star went off with a loud crack and a cloud of smoke. "Surrender? My triumph is but moments away! Soon this station's mass effect relay shall open and Sovereign's brothers in dark space shall pour through. Legions of them will blacken the skies of every planet in the galaxy! Join me and be the first to kneel before our new masters!"
"No thanks! I'd rather die fighting to protect the galaxy!" shouted Adria S'Voz, crouched in her Commander Shi'Paard costume on the opposite side of the stone stairway. Jorgal Dreed was crouched next to her. "Once, you would have done that too! You still can do it, Tyruss - If you have the guts! - I mean 'Saren'! Gaaaah!" the actress shouted.
"Cut!" yelled director Bik Orbal. "Alright, everyone, let's set it back up for attempt number 14."
Aklaysius made his platform glide to the floor, shaking his head as it lowered. "Spirits, Adria, we almost had it that time!" the turian moaned. "What has gotten into you today?"
"Thought it was obvious, Tyruss: she's hungover!" Dreed declared with a laugh. "Now that Blasto's sober, she's picking up the slack in the spoiled diva department."
"This One CAN hear you, esteemed krogan co-star," Blasto announced as he scuttled off the set towards the three assistants waiting to attend to him.
"And 'this one' doesn't give a pile of pyjak droppings that you can!" Dreed snorted in response.
S'Voz cradled her head in her hands. "Goddess, would all of you please just give me a moment of quiet?" she pleaded. "If I can just get a few seconds to clear my head, we can get through this!"
Dreed waved the comment away. "No, no, Adria! Use it! What better to way to project fury on the screen than to act while every little sound makes you want to commit random murder?" the krogan argued. "I've done some of my best work while still getting over benders!"
"He does have a point," Aklaysius began. "This one scene in 'Fleet and Flotilla-"
S'Voz looked up, rage blazing in her eyes. "SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" she barked, then returned to cradling her head in her hands. "I just need a few moments of silence..."
"Very well," Aklaysius softly replied. As he spoke, special effects director Lyle Jeddick handed him a new prop grenade. The turian nodded to the human, took the prop and then put a finger talon to his mandibles to mime a "shush" sound. Jeddick smiled and chuckled in response, then strode over to where the buried explosive charge had been and quietly went about re-setting it. Dreed and S'Voz stood about three meters away, paying little heed to the human.
"How'd you get in this state anyway?" Dreed asked the asari. "You're just about the last person I'd expect to see on a set like this."
"Yeah, well, when Aria T'Loak says 'I want to celebrate!' she does not want to hear, 'Can't. Gotta be at work early tomorrow,' in response," the actress muttered.
Dreed chuckled. "Heh, I see. What was Her Majesty celebrating?"
S'Voz groaned for a second and replied, "Keep this under your hump for the time being, but T'Loak has persuaded al-Jilani to bury her expose."
The krogan scratched the side of his head. "Al-Jiminy? That's that human reporter the producers barred, right?"
"Yes..." S'Voz wearily grunted.
Neither noticed Jeddick as he silently finished setting the charge and left the set. Nor did they see the angry scowl on his face.
Frank 'Smiley' O'Rourke exited the Zakera Ward tobacco shop, unwrapped a cigar from his newly-purchased box, lit it up and took a quick puff. The cigar was just good enough to keep on smoking but only barely. "Save my credits next time," the broad-shouldered, sandy-haired human mumbled as he turned and glanced back at the store window. He broke into a wide grin when he spotted a familiar reflection in the window standing near his.
"Lyle!" he shouted as he spun to his side. "Jackie said you were on the Citadel! Howya been?!"
"Getting by, getting by," Jeddick laughed as he pulled a cigar from O'Rourke's box and proceeded to light it up. He slapped his friend on the shoulder and nodded towards the other people walking through that section of the ward. "Let's go somewhere a little quieter to chat, okay?"
"Sure, sure," O'Rourke said with a shrug as Jeddick led him to a section of the ward where they were out of earshot from anyone else. "What's this about?"
"Trying to get a few good Terminus System shitkickers together for a little project I'm working on," Jeddick announced in a low voice. "You in?"
O'Rourke took a puff on his cigar. "You even need to ask? What's the job?"
Jeddick blew out a small cloud of smoke. "We're gonna make sure an alien-loving human traitor gets what's coming to her," he drawled. "And the best part? We're gonna pin it on that bitch Aria T'Loak."