I don't own either Mass effect or AvP

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Chora's Den.

"What can you tell me about that alley," Shepard asked as they made their way back through the club.

"It's more of an access tunnel for maintenance than an actual corridor," Vakarian said. "Pretty much straight ahead, no real curves or corners but about halfway in there is a staircase, going down. And there is plenty of cover. The walls aren't smooth, there are pipes and conduits out in the open, and there is usually plenty of trash piled up. Anyone smaller than an Elcor can find something to hide behind."

"What about lighting?"

"Not good. Only emergency lights and there is nothing I can do about it. It's not that the lights have been switched off, they just aren't there. It really is the perfect spot for an ambush."

"Certainly sounds like it. Well, I suppose that works both ways. We may be able to surprise whoever shows up when they're focused on the quarian. My only real worry is that they leave guards at the entrance. If we cannot get into that alley without being detected, we've got a major problem. We may have to fight our way along the full length of that alley. Plenty of time for that quarian to get killed."

Vakarian nodded. "Yes. Speaking of the quarian. Assuming that we can extract her alive. What exactly are your plans, Shepard?"

"She has information. I want that information. It's really quite simple."

"And if she doesn't want to give it to you?"

Shepard shrugged. "She was willing to trade with the Shadow Broker for passage of the station. Now she can trade with me."

"And if she doesn't want to deal with you?"

"No reason why she wouldn't. She wants to get off this station. That's fine with me. I'll book her a first class ticket on the next ship out and I'll escort her on board myself. Hell, I'll throw in a bottle of Champagne or whatever it is that quarians drink. But, if she really won't deal. Well, I'm not sure how this will translate, but humans would say that 'I'll make her an offer she cannot refuse'."

"I think it translates quite well. Especially, if you mean, what I think you mean. Shepard, I have to warn you. That little stunt with Fist was one thing. Like you said, he was a lowlife and nobody is going to miss him. But this quarian, I don't know who she is, but from her interaction with Fist, I would say she's rather naive. It sounds to me like she just got caught up in this mess."

"And so?"

"And so there are limits. I don't like quarians, Shepard. I don't think anyone does, really. But I will not let you torture an innocent bystander for information."

"I see." Shepard pushed a final grenade into the magazine of her rifle. "Then I suppose we can only hope that either she isn't an innocent bystander or that she's willing to be reasonable. Or both."

"Are you two done?" Wrex had already reached the doors. "Or do we stay here while you talk some more?"

"Don't worry," Shepard said. "We can talk and fight at the same time."

-0-0-0-

Connecting Alley

The sound of gunfire had died down. Tali couldn't quite make up her mind if that was good or bad news. The human, Fist had seemed like the kind of person who would have enemies with guns, so the gunfight might actually have nothing to do with her. In that case, it might actually be a good thing if Fist's club got shot up because it might confuse the trail for anyone pursuing her. Then again, that seemed to be too much of a coincidence. Still, why would anyone pursuing her launch a full-scale attack on the club? That was almost guaranteed to bring the authorities down on them, which was the last thing they would want. Still, it might be better to get out while she still could. Even if the gunfight had nothing to with her, it might well scare off the Shadow Broker and she would be stuck in this alley forever, waiting for someone who would never show up. And if it was about her... She had left her drone near the entrance of the alley so she'd have a little advance warning if anyone came from that side, but she'd still be caught in a narrow alley, unable to do anything but run toward the lower wards.

Tali hesitated, then came out of her hiding spot. She'd had enough. Time to get out and come up with a new plan. Perhaps that Volus on the Praesidium could set up a new meeting with the Shadow Broker. And if not, she might be able to get passage off-station by mustering on with one of the smaller freighters. Not everyone was so prejudiced against quarians that they would pass up the opportunity to hire an engineer of her skills.

She had barely taken two steps when she froze, then fell back into the shadows, as the enhanced audio sensors in her suit picked up a new noise. There was the unmistakable sound of a blast door sliding open, then closing. Someone had entered the alley from the side of the lower wards and, if the footsteps were any indication, they were now making their way toward her.

-0-0-0-

Upper Wards, Transit station

"There's the entrance."

"And they did put a guard in place, damn!"

A turian in civilian clothes was leaning against the wall next to the door. Shepard stepped back into the shadows before the turian could look in her direction.

"Certainly looks like it," Vakarian agreed. "A good sign actually. He cannot have been standing there for long, or he would have heard our gunfight. Looks like we might still be in time. Though I suppose he could just be a random person waiting for a Transit cab."

"Really?" Shepard asked. "Where would he have come from? He certainly didn't come out of Chora's Den and I doubt he came through the alley."

"True. If he had come from the lower wards, he would have called a cab there."

"So, now what?"

Vakarian chanced another glance around the corner. "Let me see." He activated his omnitool and a holographic image of the turian appeared.

"Copied from that visor of yours?"

"Yes. Now," he entered a command. "Zooming in, checking energy sources. Omnitool; something around his neck, has to be a communicator; and a weapon, handgun, left side. Tell me, Shepard, do you have any more of those non-lethal rounds?"

"One more. Why?"

Vakarian made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a sigh. "I'm a cop, Shepard. He may look suspicious, but he hasn't broken any laws. I cannot just let you gun him down, no matter what Executor Palin believes of me. So, can you take the shot?"

"Probably," Shepard nodded. "The grenade launcher is inaccurate, but at this range, I can hit him. Question is, where do I put the bullet? With a human, I'd know, but a turian? I'll have only one chance."

Vakarian hesitated. "Side of the head, above the eyes. A good hard knock will take him down."

"And that won't kill him? They may be called non-lethal, but if you hit a human in the head with one of these rubber bullets, you take a big chance."

"We turians are tougher. We have armour plating on top of the skull. It will hurt, but it won't kill him as long as the shot doesn't actually penetrate."

"Your decision." Shepard lifted her rifle and flipped up the sights for the grenade launcher. Se worked the action and fed the last remaining M230 round into the breach. "One shot. Stand by. If I miss and he goes for a weapon, I'll just gun him down for real."

She edged closer to the corner."On three. One, two, three!"

Shepard stepped into the open, making no attempt to hide. The turian spotted her. His talon went into his clothes, just as Shepard saw the sights line up. Now! She fired. As soon as the shot went out, her finger went for the fire selector, ready to switch to the automatic rifle, but there was no need. The turian dropped like a stone.

"Got him."

Vakarian moved forward quickly, followed more slowly by Wrex.

"Good shot. He's unconscious. Won't wake up for a while either. I'll make sure he stays where he is."

The detective unhooked something from his belt and locked it around his fellow turian's wrists while Shepard looked on in fascination. "Tell me, is that actually a mass effect field, holding his wrists in place?"

Vakarian looked up. "Obviously."

Shepard snorted. "They're just restraints, for God's sake! Just use a couple of metal bands with a chain between them!"

Vakarian looked at her rather strangely. "And then what, Shepard? That may work on a planet where everyone is of the same species, but here in the Citadel? What if I have to restrain a krogan or an elcor. I'd have to carry three or four different sizes of restraints, at least. And that doesn't begin to address the problem of restraining a hanar. No, this may seem expensive, but trust me, it's the only practical option."

Shepard shook her head, feeling slightly bewildered. "I'll take your word for it. Anyway, I suggest we hurry up. Before someone calls this guy and realizes he isn't answering the phone."

-0-0-0-

Connecting Alley

A turian and two salarians, all in combat armour, even though the turian's head was uncovered. Was any of them the Shadow Broker? They certainly didn't look like the types who would make a habit of scurrying through an alley like this. But then again, they didn't match her idea of a Galaxy-class information trader either. More like mercenaries, or private security. About halfway through the alley, they stopped and looked around. One of the salarians activated an omnitool, including multi-wavelength scanners. Tali took a deep breath. This was it. She could probably block his sensors, but he would realize that she was doing it and know that she was nearby. After that, it would only be a matter of time before they found her anyway. She stepped out into the open.

"Ah, there you are!" The turian looked her up and down. "I apologize for the delay, but setting up this meeting took a little longer than expected. Now, I believe you had some information that you wanted to trade."

"With the Shadow Broker," Tali said. "are you saying you're him?"

"Not exactly," He continued smoothly. "I'm afraid the Shadow Broker would have been unable to get here in time. But he sent us to make the deal."

On Tali's omnitool, a small warning signal lit up. Her drone had detected movement. Someone, three of them in fact, had just entered the alley from the direction of Chora's Den. That was not good. She was about to be traped between whoever had shot up Chora's Den and the three in front of her, with no guarantee that either of them would be on her side. In fact, it looked increasingly as though neither would be.

"I told Fist that I would only deal with the Broker himself." Tali backed away only for the turian to take a step forward. The salarians stood still, silent figures, there armoured helmets making them as even more anonymous than her environmental suit made her.

"Of course, but Fist isn't here right now. So, why don't we all agree on a new arrangement? That way we can all get what we want without any unpleasantness. Now, what exactly is this information that you want to trade?"

"Stay back!" The turian ignored her, taking another step forward and Tali was out of room to move. he reached out and grasped her wrist. A serious mistake. In itself, it might have seemed like an obvious move. A female quarian against a male turian in hand-to-hand combat would always be at a severe disadvantage. However, by grabbing her wrist his fingers passed through the haptic display of her omnitool, and no one, ever, touched a quarians omnitool without permission.

The turian screamed as a heavy electric shock went through his body. He let go of Tali's arm and collapsed. The salarians raised their weapons trying to get a shot. Then, while Tali desperately scrambled for cover, the people behind her, whoever they were opened fire.

-0-0-0-

The turian screamed as the arc of electricity hit him and went down, hard. Shepard grinned. Note to self. When dealing with quarians, treat the omnitool as though it's a weapon. Still, it won't save her, unless... The quarian was moving fast, ducking between crates, while she tried to pull out whatever weapon she carried. The salarians moved in, quickly, efficiently. These were professionals, a far cry from Fists untrained thugs. Shepard fired a burst, saw the initial shots bounce of a kinetic barrier. Keep firing! It was one of the most elemental lessons of the First Contact War: The rapid firing human weapons that didn't overheat after a few shots were the bane of mass effect shields. Usually, half a dozen rounds were enough to drop any personal shield and, unlike mass accelerator guns, human guns could just keep pouring in bullets. Still, the salarian didn't panic. Instead, he ducked into cover, while his companion returned fire. Shepard jumped aside. Cannot use a grenade. The quarian is too close and if what they say is true, any puncture of that suit is potentially lethal. She fired again, missed, but now both salarians were pinned down. Next to her Vakarian was shooting as well, forcing the salarians to stay in cover while Wrex moved in, shotgun at the ready.
More shots rang out. One of the salarian risked sticking his head out of cover. Shepard, Vakarian, and the quarian all fired at the same time. His shield collapsed and at least one shot went into his helmet. He fell down and didn't move. By now, Wrex had reached the fallen turian. He didn't even bother shooting him, but simply stepped on the turian's face, ensuring that he would never get up again. The second salarian, under fire and with a krogan approaching tried to make a break for it and fall back. He never made it. Shepard fired a quick burst that dropped his shields and then watched as concentrated pistol and shotgun fire tore through his armour. he twisted in mid-stride and fell. Then there was silence.

As Shepard watched, the quarian slowly emerged from cover. It was an interesting sight. She had seen images, but never actually encountered one. The alien seemed to have the figure of a human woman or an asari, except for legs that bent like a turian's and she was covered from head to toe -two of those on each foot- in a form-fitting suit, including a helmet with an opaque faceplate and a sort of decorated scarve that covered the back of her head.

"Who are you people?"

Wait, what? Is that a Romani accent? Who programmed THAT into the translator?

-0-0-0-

A human, a turian in C-Sec armour, and a krogan. About as strange a combination as any and it was clearly not a coincidence that they were here. The question was, what did they want from her that they were willing to engage in a firefight to get it? The human spoke up first.

"I'm Shepard. I've been reliably informed that you have some information concerning a turian Spectre named Saren. I would like you to share that information with me."

Tali looked from one alien to another. The human was focused on her, face expressionless, but with the muscles tensed. The turian looked openly worried, but his focus was more on the human than on Tali, and the krogan... was being a krogan, generally not caring about anything.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

The human breathed in slowly, then let the air flow out in a clearly audible fashion. "You know, it's been a long and frustrating day. I've been running all over this bloody station; I've been in four different shoot-outs, just in one day; I'm tired and I'm annoyed and I strongly recommend that you don't add to my annoyance. You went to a doctor in the upper wards to have a shot wound fixed. You told that doctor that you had information you wanted to sell to the Shadow Broker. The doctor sent you to Fist, who sent you into this alley to wait for the next contact. Do I have to continue?"

"No." Whatever else the human knew, there was clearly no point in trying to play dumb.

"Good, then we can stop playing games. As you may have guessed, there is no deal with the Broker. Fist sold you out to Saren, who arranged for this little committee. I think we can be reasonably sure there was at least one more of them, guarding the alley from the other end. By now he knows the operation has gone tits up, so he'll be contacting Saren at the earliest notice for instructions. However, that is of no immediate concern to you. What is of concern is me, here and now. You wanted to make a trade, so trade."

Tali thought quickly. This was the end of the line. There was no place to run from here. She'd just have to try to get the best possible bargain.

"What are you offering?"

Both the human and the turian seemed to relax slightly.

"That depends on what you're selling," the human countered. "I understand you want off this station. I can arrange that. Human merchants trade on the Citadel. It may take a few days, but I can use the human embassy to get you a place aboard the next ship that goes from here into the Terminus."

"And what guarantee do I have that you'll keep your word?"

Once again, the human audibly breathed in and out. It seemed to have some sort of significance, though her suit's translation system didn't detect it as a form of communication.

"You don't have any. But why would I bother with that kind of trick? It's not as though I'll be paying for it myself. And if word gets out that I screwed you over, it'll be that much harder to make the next deal. For me, or any human around here. Now, what kind of information do you have?"

Tali hesitated, but the human had a point, at least as far as she could understand her colloquialisms. As long as Tali didn't ask for too much, deceiving her would probably be more trouble than it was worth. And truly, all she wanted was a clear escape from the Citadel.

"I have a recording of a conversation. Just a few sentences. It's about a place called Eden Prime. I believe that's a human colony."

Not for the first time in her life, Tali appreciated how useful it was that quarians habitually hid their faces. It allowed one to react to news without giving anything away. None of the others had that advantage. The human's facial muscles tightened abruptly, causing her eyes to narrow in a clear display of anger, even to someone who had never even seen a human in the flesh until a few days earlier. The turian C-Sec detective was even easier to read. His mandibles flared, then almost snapped back down. Even the krogan reacted, albeit only barely.

"And how does this relate to Saren?" The human asked.

Tali looked down at her omnitool. "I would think that the fact that he is after me would be enough evidence that it does. I'll play the recording for you once we have a deal. I want safe passage off this station. And protection as long as I'm here."

The human nodded. "You have it."

"No." One thing quarians learned early was to bargain. In an environment with limited resources, where most exchanges were based on barter, it was an essential survival skill. Tali knew when she had the upper hand. "Not by you. Like you said, it's not you personally that will pay for it. I want an agreement with the human ambassador."

"Udina?" The human looked surprised. "You want to deal with Udina personally? That's got to be a first. Trust me, I've dealt with the man."

Tali remained silent.

"Alright, have it your way. But I gotta warn you, you'd probably get a better deal out of me." The human turned around to talk to the detective. "I guess I'll call Harkin to pick us up. A direct flight to the embassy will be far safer than public transport. What about you?"

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Shepard." The turian's voice was harsh. "Or this quarian. If this information is what you think it is... No. Besides, if I don't go with you, I have to return to headquarters and report at least something of what's happened. I suspect it would be better for all of us if that got delayed a bit."

"Fair enough. Just don't forget to tell your people about the guy you left in restraints. It would be awkward if someone else found him there."

"Don't worry." The turian actually smirked, though Tali was unsure if the human would recognize that expression. "I locked out the Rapid Transit Station from the grid. Nobody is passing by anytime soon."

"Good thinking. What about you?" she looked at the krogan, who grinned.

"You're fun to be around, Shepard. Besides, I want to see how this plays out."

The human laughed, the sound eerily similar to what an asari would make. "Why not? Let's all go see Udina. The more the merrier. This will be worth it, just to see the look on Udina's face." She took out a small communicator. "Harkin? I need a pickup. What, no? No need for any disposal. C-Sec will handle that, this time. I just need a ride. And I'm bringing some new friends."

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A/N The only explanation I could think of, for the fact that Tali tends to sound like a Romani is that it got somehow programmed into the quarian-to-human translator by someone with a really awkward sense of humour. And it has to be on the human side, because how would quarians even know about Romani, let alone what their accent sounds like. I know that was primarily ME2 and ME3, not ME1, but I prefer that version of Tali anyway. The way she appeared in ME1 was too immature for my taste. I felt bad for basically using a child-soldier. (Then ME2 came around and my little girl was all grown up, *sniff*.)