The hour had grown late…or early, depending on one's point of view. Shepard was beyond exhausted, and though she was still sore, she spent her time pacing. Whenever she sat down, drowsiness threatened to overtake her. She still had an hour or two before Helen would allow her to sleep, but every inch of her was feeling the weight of it.

Not that anyone else was sleeping. Liara was working in the kitchen, Tali and EDI having long wandered in to help her. Vega was chatting up Brooks, who didn't seem any less jumpy for the medi-gel having worn off. From his body language, Del wondered if James was actually working up the courage to hit on the staff analyst.

Nancy kept busy playing 'host' and talking with Helen. Every time Del glanced over the pair seemed to be watching her.

Making sure I don't fall over or something, she thought with an irritated grunt. Her balance was fine, her spacial orientation was fine, but they kept watching as if they expected her to collapse at any moment.

They're just worried. They care about you. You're only irritated because you're sore and exhausted. Oh, and some fucking nameless army tried to kill you and nearly took out Liara and Wrex to do it.

When she looked over again, she was surprised to see Liara had joined the pair and was as well looking at her. "Shepard, I have something."

Del gave a quick, sharp whistle to get everyone else's attention, and gestured them into the kitchen as she went to join them. They gathered around the dining room table as Liara accessed Glyph.

"It was definitely Elijah Kahn," she said as she worked. "It took some doing but I was able to pull a very interesting phone call he made immediately after the attempt on your life."

A man's voice filled the air, angry and intent. "That's it! We're done, do you hear me? You can keep your goddamn credits; I'm refunding you in full."

Another voice answered, purely synthetic with no identifiable accent or even gender.

"What is the problem, Kahn?"

"Are you kidding me? Turn on the news! Your little stunt is all over the feeds. When I sell weapons I don't want them showing up in a raid on some hoighty toighty restaurant that's now crawling with C-Sec!"

"Would you relax? They can't link you to me. Trust me."

"Trust you? After this? Are you fucking insane? No. No. We're done. You get your arms somewhere else. And if you even think about coming after me I'll plaster your treachery all over the nightly news! I'm sure the Alliance will be-"

"Be careful who you threaten, Kahn."

"We. Are. DONE."

"Yes, noted. Have a pleasant evening."

As the call ended Vega snorted. "He mentioned treachery, and the Alliance. Is this one of our own turned traitor?"

"It is very likely," Liara said. "I was also able to finally identify who those soldiers were that attacked you, Del. It is a private military group called Cat6."

Del's look turned black. "Cao! Fucking chuns…"

"I don't get it," Tali said. "Cat6? Do we know them?"

"Cat6 is Alliance slang for marines who were dishonorably discharged," Ashley said. "Usually because of mental issues like psychopathy or drug abuse, or criminal issues. Real special snowflakes."

"So they are traitors," Brooks said, looking pale.

"Doesn't sound like this 'Kahn' is the one that hired them, he's just supplying them," Garrus said. "That means our mystery voice is the actual brains behind the operation. Whoever it is, that's the person that wants you dead, Del. They're just using Kahn and Cat6 to achieve their goal."

"Chances are they're active Alliance by the sound of things, trying to keep their identity hidden so they don't face arrest and court-martial," Vega said. "Who do you know in the Alliance that hates you enough to want you dead?"

"You want a list?" Del asked.

"Could you figure out how to unscramble that voice?" Nancy asked. The others looked over at her, having forgotten she and Chakwas were even there.

"Not possible, not in any short amount of time," Liara said. "Whoever it was used an ID scrambler. A very sophisticated one, similar to…one I have encountered in the past. Breaking the scrambler would take weeks of effort, even by a talented encryptionist. We do not have that kind of time or expertise."

"We can't go to C-Sec for help," Del said, leaning on the table. "Our mystery assassin has already shown they can infiltrate there. We can't go to the Alliance for help, because this person may very well be Alliance. Pretty much the only people I trust right now are in this room, with the exception of a small few that aren't even on the Citadel, and we can't contact them without possibly putting them in danger. We're on our own with this one, guys."

"They don't stand a chance," Wrex grinned. Del looked at him.

"Wrex, they have an army."

"Yeah, and we have a Shepard," Tali said smugly, folding her arms. Del blinked at her and several of the others chuckled. She let out a breath, smiling weakly as she shook her head.

"All right, all right. So…plans? Ideas?"

"Now that we know this Kahn is involved for sure, we go and mess him up," Jack said. "Corner him, see if we can't wring out the name of our mystery asshole from his scrawny neck."

"We will still need to be a bit more subtle," Liara said. "Kahn is going to be paranoid now, afraid that Shepard will come after him directly. The casino has a panic room. He's probably already locked himself in there."

"He's right to," Joker replied. "If he isn't whimpering under his bed like a two year old right about now he's insane."

"Precisely, and that panic room will be behind layers of security and probably his own small army's worth of guards and automated defenses," Ashley said. "If he even thinks he sees Del or any of us coming he'll lock down tighter than Fort Knox."

"Liara, you were able to get that phone call," Del said. "Could we use the same method to get into his security systems?" Del asked.

"No," she said. "Getting that call involved not only the weapon's biometric data and salarian intelligence, but also a hanar prostitute with camera implants."

Del stared at her. "What…really?"

Liara smiled faintly. "No, but the real answer is boring. Suffice it to say, we cannot use the same method here."

"Could this Kahn just tell you what you need to know?" Nancy asked. "He did not sound too happy with…whomever that voice was."

"Ask nicely?" Del asked with a smile. "I'd be more than happy to 'ask nicely', Nan, but the problem is getting close enough to him to be able to do so. He's going to assume I'm there to pound his face in, not to just have a polite chat."

She sighed, pursing her lips in thought. "The casino is open to the public. EDI and Tali may be able to come up with programs to thwart some of the security systems but if any of the flesh and blood guards open fire a lot of innocent lives are going to be in danger. They'll be jumpy, quick on the trigger. One or two of us may be able to get in there but only if we blend in, are unrecognizable."

Ashley looked at her, then narrowed her eyes slightly in a thoughtful way. "You know…when you're dressed in your civvies you are pretty unrecognizable."

"She's right, Shepard," Tali said. "You do tend to blend out of uniform."

"I know a way she could walk right in and no one would ever suspect it was her, not in a million years," Joker said. Del looked at him dangerously.

"Joker," she said warningly. He smiled.

"Worked with Kasumi."

"God damn it, Joker…"

"It fooled Donovan Hock and those people at his party completely."

"Would you please shut up?"

"What is he talking about?" Nan asked, confused. "What worked with Kasumi?"

Garrus looked amused. "In order to infiltrate a fancy dress party to help Kasumi, Del put on…well, a dress."

"I'm not putting on a dress!"

"And make-up."

"Fuck no!"

"She was adorable," Joker smiled.

"I am going to insert your head into your 'adorable' colon, Joker," Del said angrily.

"Shepard," Liara said kindly. "It could work. It is your best chance to go undetected, and you would be indistinguishable from the rest of the casino crowd."

Del groaned. "C'mon, is that the only option? Can't I just…let them shoot me?"

"Del!"

"For fuck's sake. Fine."

"There is a charity event being hosted by the casino tomorrow evening…well, technically this evening," Liara said. "I can purchase two or three tickets. That will give us our in. I can have Glyph find and go over the blueprints of the building and the panic room, find us our best route to bypass security and get in to talk to Kahn without him sealing the doors. Likely there will be maintenance shafts we can utilize. We will not even need to bring weapons."

"Perfect," Del said grumpily. "First a dress, now I won't even get the chance to shoot someone in it."

Ignoring her Liara continued. "I suggest Del and I, and perhaps Tali, make the infiltration team."

"I don't think me going would be a good idea," Tali said.

"Why not?" Del looked at her. "You'd be the best choice for helping to bypass their security systems."

"A quarian at a charity event being held in a high end casino? I don't like it, but I would stick out like a sore thumb, draw attention to us. Not to mention if we do get into a maintenance shaft…it's a casino. They're going to have scanners in there that will pick up my suit tech in a second. I can do what I can to help offsite, but I don't want to put the operation at risk just because quarians are still considered second-class and I can't take my suit off."

"The same would apply for me," EDI said. "More, I would not even make it in the front door. Synthetics are forbidden from casinos. Too high risk for cheating software."

"So we need someone small enough to get into a maintenance shaft who isn't lousy with tech," Del said, then nodded and looked up. "Brooks, you're in."

"Who?" she said, then blinked. "Me? What? No…no, that's not a good idea."

"You have implants?" Del asked.

"W-well, no-"

"Any tech on you besides your omni-tool, which can be removed?"

"N-no, but I'd need tools to disable-"

"There are simple tools that do not rely on technology that would allow you to bypass any number of systems once you are inside the shaft," EDI said. "A basic, low frequency ear bud will allow you to communicate without tripping any alarms."

"Everyone else is either too big or lousy with tech, myself included," Del said. "They'd pick up my cybernetic implants just as easily as Tali's suit."

"I-I got shot just coming to talk to you! Wh-what about…about Angry Tattoos over here?"

She jabbed a thumb at Jack, who folded her arms and glared at her. "Grow some goddamn balls, would you?"

"Jack has extremely strong biotics. If those scanners are built to detect eezo power sources she could set them off just like any other tech," Del said. "Can't risk it."

"Honey, I know you're scared," Nan said kindly, looking at her. "Del would die herself before letting you get hurt. You can do this."

"B-but-"

"We'll be there, every step of the way," Del told her. "Look, Brooks. It's a lot, I know. But you're Alliance, you're small enough, and you're far less likely to be on Kahn's radar than anyone else here. He won't be looking for you."

Brooks still looked like a deer caught in headlights as she forcibly swallowed, then nodded. "You're right. I'm Alliance. I…I'll do it. I'll do the best I can."

"Glyph is handling the blue prints and security data," Liara said. "At this point, there's little more to do than rest and prepare for the casino. Garrus, we can maintain communications with you and the others once we're inside- we'll be relying on you for extraction in case we need to beat a hot retreat."

"I'll set a plan up to make sure all our exits are covered," he said.

"Great. So we're set," Del said, then looked over at Chakwas. "Can I sleep yet?"

"Sufficient time should have passed," Helen said. "I think I can allow it."

"Get a few hours, Del," Wrex said. "We'll keep the fort locked down."

"Thanks big guy."

She nodded to the others, then turned and headed out of the kitchen, aiming for the stairs. Liara exchanged a concerned look with Nan, who nodded, and then turned to follow her. She caught up easily, but said nothing until they were within the master bedroom.

"Shepard?"

"I'm fine," Del said unconvincingly as she sat down on the bed. "Just fucking exhausted."

"It…cannot be easy to think that one of your own hates you enough to want you dead," the asari said gently, moving over to sit beside her.

"If it's a traitor in the Alliance, it's not 'one of my own'," she said. "They're not worthy of the damned uniform or the name."

Lifting her hand, Liara gently outlined the bruise on the side of Del's cheek and forehead, her finger barely touching the skin. "We will find them and stop them," she said softly. "Your friends and crew are with you, Del. Trust us."

"I do trust you," Del said. "I just don't want anyone dying for me."

"You would die for any of us. You must accept the same is true in reverse."

Shepard scrubbed a hand over her face. "The next time I want to go to dinner with Joker, stop me."

Liara smiled, then leaned over and softly kissed her cheek. She then shifted the kiss to the corner of Del's mouth. "I was so afraid I was going to lose you," she whispered, meeting Shepard's eyes.

"I'm here, Tianlán," she whispered back. "I'm not going anywhere."


"Can we skip this part?" Melara asked, glancing over at her father as she wrinkled her nose. Del laughed, sipping at her beer and looking upward. The light was getting more golden as it filtered through the trees.

"Don't like romance?" Shepard asked her daughter, teasing.

"Uh, not when it's my parents," Melara replied.

"Relax, kiddo. Nothing happened," Del told her. "I had a wicked headache and a body that felt like it had been beaten by a rabid krogan. I just wanted to sleep, and sleep was all we did."

Melara nodded, and looked at the river a moment. "Mama really jumped off that skycar lot to save you?"

"She really did. It was pretty awesome-or so I'm told. I missed most of it. I lost consciousness shortly after…that merc pitched me off the edge. I mean, I had just been hit by a skycar. I was barely aware I was even falling."

Melara looked back toward her, thoughtfully, then started to smirk. Del lifted a brow. "What?"

"Did you really dress up for the casino?" she asked.

Del grimaced. "Yes," she said grudgingly. "I even put on heels. Again."

"I wish I could have seen it."

"No you don't. I looked absolutely horrible. Your mother even said so."


"Del, you look absolutely horrible," Liara said, with a grimace on her face. "Like a pig shoved into a silk scarf-"


"Mama did not say that," Melara said.

"Hey, this is my story, Pain."

"Tell the truth, or I'll tell Mama you said she said that."

"You are no fun at all. Fine. The truth…"


"There," Liara said, giving Del's temple a light kiss as she finished fastening on the wide necklace. She looked over Shepard's shoulder at her reflection in the mirror. "Shepard, you look…if I did not know better, I would never believe…"

"The dress isn't too much?" Del asked, looking awkwardly down at herself. "Tali picked it out. I think she thought it was funny."

The dress, like the one she'd worn to Hock's party, was black and sparkled in the light. It was all but backless, and showed a far more generous amount of cleavage than Del would have liked (not that she had much cleavage to begin with). Thanks to very liberal amounts of make-up that Nancy had helped her apply, there wasn't even a visible trace of her bruises.

"The dress is stunning," Liara replied. Del looked at her sheepishly, then smiled.

"You are the one that looks stunning."

Liara's dress was white silk, simple yet incredibly elegant. To help mask her own identity she had applied asari face paint in a bold pattern, the white markings helping to change her features just slightly.

"You sure I can't take a gun with us?"

"Del…"

She grunted, grimacing as she stepped into the heels that had come along with the dress. Her feet would be killing her by the end of the night, she had no doubt.

"The first one downstairs that cracks wise I'm going to break their goddamn face."

"You should probably avoid getting blood on the dress before we arrive at the casino," Liara told her. "It might give you away."

"Good point."

"At any rate, the others have already left to get into position. Joker is waiting with the skycar on the landing pad just outside, with Brooks."

"Then we'd better get too it. The less time I have to spend in this getup the better."

Liara smiled, very carefully kissing her cheek so as not to smudge either of their faces, before taking her hand. As they stepped out of the bedroom, Nan hurried over.

"Brooks is already in the car. Liara, you look a total vision!"

"Thank you, Nancy."

"And Del, if I wasn't the one that put that make-up on you I'd never have known it was you."

"That seems to be the consensus," Shepard said. "And it's kind of the point."

"Please, stay safe you two. Helen and I will be monitoring communications so we'll know what's going on but-"

"Nan, doing that might put your position here in the apartment at risk-"

"I have already set up the buds to filter through Glyph and a dozen ghost protocols," Liara said. "I made sure Nancy and Helen would remain safe."

"We will be all right," Nan promised. "You are the ones that are going to be in danger, Del. You're still recovering from yesterday. Just please, promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise you I will be careful," Del said. "If for no other reason than I refuse to die in heels. I'd never live it down."

She bent and kissed Nan's cheek quickly before the woman could chastise her for her flippancy, then offered her arm to Liara.

"All right. Let's get this nightmare over with."