"There are people taking pictures," Del said as the skycar circled over the casino landing pad, waiting for a slot. From their vantage, they could see party patrons entering the brightly lit casino, waving happily at gathered spectators roped back from the entry way. Lights were flashing from the crowd.
"There are many celebrities attending the event," Liara said. "I would be surprised if there were no cameras."
Del shook her head. "I don't like this. Someone is going to recognize me."
"You're joking right?" Brooks said. "I'm still not entirely convinced you're…uh, you."
She was sitting timidly nearby, wearing a little blue dress and a string of pearls. Oddly enough, dressing up made her look older, whereas her Alliance uniform had made her look like a kid barely out of boot. Del looked at her sharply, and Brooks swallowed.
"Ok, now I'm convinced."
Liara reached over, taking Del's hand and threading their fingers together. "You will do fine," she said. "Just relax."
Del took a breath, fiddling with her own necklace with her free hand as Joker moved the car in and lowered it to a landing. "Good luck in there boss," he said, glancing back at them. "Try not to break any part of the casino with your face."
"I'll use your face this time, Joker," Del said lightly as the door swung open. Steeling herself, she stepped out. Doing her best to ignore the crowd who eagerly looked her direction, she held her hand out and helped Liara out of the car behind her, the asari taking her arm as Brooks followed.
Following Liara's lead, they walked to the casino doors, careful to neither rush nor linger. A few camera lights flashed in their direction but for the most part the crowd seemed distracted- not recognizing the trio they had turned back toward where the cars were landing, hoping to catch sight of someone more famous.
Their invitations were checked at the door, and they were ushered inside. Quickly finding an area near the door where they could linger without arousing suspicion, Del touched her earring.
"All right, we're in," she said in a hushed voice. "Comm check."
{We're reading you loud and clear,} Garrus said.
{Tali and I are receiving as well,} EDI told them.
{We can hear you as well, Del,} Nancy said.
Brooks had touched her own earring as well, and nodded to Del to indicate her line was open too. Then she straightened, shifting the small clutch in her hands nervously. "All right then, I suppose I should head toward the…uh, restroom."
"We'll be in contact the entire time," Del told her. "You'll do fine."
"I'm good Ca…uh…Shep…uh…I-I-I'm good, really. I'll be all right. Really. Piece of cake."
Del nodded to her, and Brooks awkwardly stepped back. "Ok then. Here's me going. Bye."
She turned and walked off into the party, still gripping her purse as if someone were going to try and rip it out of her grip.
"This…may not have been a good idea," Del said, watching her go.
"She will do fine," Liara said. "Tali and EDI will be there to talk her through any problems that may arise. I think you just intimidate her."
"Little old harmless me?" Del asked with a half smirk. Liara shook her head, rolling her eyes a little.
"For now, we had better just mingle, act like any other guests. It would be less likely we will attract suspicion if we separate. Anyone looking for you would pay particular attention to a human woman with an asari."
"You're right, much as I hate to say it."
"We will still be in contact."
"That will help when I panic and strangle some random drunk who grabs my ass."
{Del!}
"I'm just kidding, Nan. I can restrain myself from tearing civvies apart you know."
{I know that you can, though you should probably stop calling them 'civvies' while at the party- it is a dead give-away that you are military.}
"…good point."
"I will see you soon," Liara said, kissing her cheek carefully before moving off into the crowd. Del watched her go, then looked warily at the clogs and knots of people laughing and talking in the casino.
Mingle. Just…mingle.
Spotting someone passing through with a tray of champagne, she zeroed in and headed for him, snagging one deftly off the tray as he brushed past her. It wasn't whiskey or pris para, but right now it would have to do.
Ok, note exits, note cameras and sensors, note guards and where they're stationed, and try not to look like you're doing any of those things.
She took a swallow of the champagne, looking over the area before gravitating toward the slots and game tables. A few games of poker and a salarian card game called 'rasta' were going on. Tempting as it was to join one of the games she contented herself with merely watching.
Maybe if I look like I'm focused no one will be inclined to talk-
"Good evening."
-to me. So much for that idea.
She turned her head to look into a pair of smiling green eyes. The gentleman was a bit older, his blonde hair starting to go to silver and creases settling in at the corners of his eyes. The look she gave him must have been a bit less neutral than she'd hoped, because he held up one hand as if surrendering.
"I did not mean to bother you, miss," he said. "I just wanted to say, that's quite a remarkable tattoo! I have never seen one that was three dimensional before."
The dress she was wearing was mostly backless. While it would look intentionally on display, Del had actually completely forgotten about her 3D phoenix tattoo.
"Oh, thank you," she said. "It's a new process, not quite hit the public market yet. I was fortunate enough to have some friends with connections."
"It is astonishing. Quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I am Tal Salinos, by the way."
He offered her his hand, and she blinked. "I…actually think I know that name," she said, taking his hand almost by reflex. Then it came to her. "I do know that name. You're the CEO of Salinos Recording."
"Guilty," he smiled. "I take it you like one of our artists? No no, don't tell me. I pride myself on being an astute judge of musical taste. Let me think…"
He tucked his hand under his chin a moment, scrutinizing her as if contemplating which stock option to buy. This lasted only a moment before he snapped his fingers.
"Charles Flatwood."
"Now I'm the one that's guilty. How…?"
"I'm not entirely sure," he said. "I get these intuitions, this sense about the way people carry themselves. The sense I have of you does not strike me as particularly rock, definitely not classical, and you're a bit too refined for sensory or techno, I think. You have a serenity to you. Almost a sorrowful feel, but one that makes no apologies. Blues, slow jazz…that's what I hear when I look at you. And Charles is our only such artist."
{A 'serenity'?} Garrus asked. Del had almost forgotten the entire team could hear almost anything in her immediate vicinity. {He clearly doesn't know you.}
{Yet he got her favorite artist right,} Tali pointed out. {Del, I think you can be very serene when you want to be.}
She couldn't answer them, of course-couldn't even react as if she'd heard their comments.
{This guy is totally hitting on you, Shepard,} Jack said. {Give fancy pants the brush-off before Blue has to tie you both into knots.}
"That's amazing," Del said with a laugh. "Yes, it's true. My girlfriend and I are big Flatwood fans."
His smile faltered ever so faintly. "Girlfriend?"
"Yes, she's wandered off to the restroom I think. Should be back soon. She would love to meet you."
"I would be honored," he said, regaining a bit of his smile. "However, I had probably better get back to my own people before they start hunting me down. It was nice to meet you, Miss…you know, I don't think I got your name?"
"Alison," she said, using the pseudonym she'd used during the raid on Donovan Hock's place without even thinking of it.
"Alison," he repeated with a nod. "Perhaps we'll meet again later tonight? Have a wonderful evening, and good luck if you take up any of the games."
"To you too, Mr. Salinos. Take care."
She kept her smile up until he'd disappeared into the crowd, then softly groaned. "If I'd kissed up to him maybe I could have met Flatwood."
{If you'd kissed up to him, Liara would make sure you were flat,} Joker replied.
"Just keep the chatter off the line, ok? This is painful enough as it is without listening to you lot giggling in the background."
{I never giggle,} Garrus said. {I chuckle. It's more manly.}
{And you need all the manly you can get-} Jack replied.
"Guys, I swear to God…shut the fuck up," Del hissed under her breath. "I'm trying to blend in, not look nuts!"
{C-Capta…I mean…}
Del headed over toward a wall, ducking her head and whispering. "What is it, Brooks? You in?"
{I'm at the vent but it's got an alarm. I can't touch it without alerting every guard here.}
{Shepard, got it,} Tali said. {EDI and I can bypass the alarm software but there's a problem. There's a hidden camera with its line of sight fixed on that vent. It's not active but it's got motion sensors hardwired into the grate itself. The moment she removes the vent grate the camera is going to switch on and send an alert directly up to Kahn.}
"What do you need me to do?"
{Go upstairs and find the camera. I'll guide you to where it is. Once there, you should be able to open the lens and remove the power connection. When the connection is out she should be able to open the vent and get in without any alerts.}
{Shepard, be careful.} Liara. {There is a guard that is doing slow rounds that pass through that area. Brooks entered the area after the guard passed through but he will be returning soon. I am trying to find him. If I can I will delay him until she's inside.}
"Understood. Heading upstairs."
She headed toward the stairway on the opposite side of the casino, downing the last of the champagne she was holding and setting the empty glass down on a random table as she passed. As she got halfway up the stairs, Tali said, {You're getting close. It's in the corner to your left when you reach the edge of the top of the stairway.}
Brooks was standing nonchalantly against the wall near the vent to the right, arms folded, but Del could see her knuckles were white as she dig her fingers in to her own flesh. She gave her a reassuring nod, then looked to the left.
"I'm not seeing a camera."
{It's about three inches over your head, set into the joint of the wall. It's not very big.}
Del moved closer, squinting at the joint between two decorative panels. Then she blinked. "It's a bug."
{I thought it was only a bug if you were planting it in someone else's property to spy on them unaware,} Vega said.
"No, I mean, it's an actual bug," Del said, and carefully picked the tiny electronic spider out of the wall joint. "They made it look like a spider."
{That's…interesting,} Tali said. {Can you see how to get it open?}
"Yeah, looks like…its little head screws loose. Wow, good thing that wasn't a real spider or that would have been messy. Got it…and got the power connection."
{Ok, close it up and put it back. I think Liara managed to distract the guard but you don't have much time. The alarm is down…now.}
Del nodded at Brooks, who immediately turned and unfastened the vent grate, swinging it open. Moving awkwardly in her skirt, she climbed inside and started to fumble it closed again. Del replaced the spider, then hurried over to help her latch it again.
{Del, I managed to distract the guard but not for long,} Liara suddenly warned. {He is on his way up to you now!}
"Go, hurry!" Del whispered urgently through the grate. Brooks' fingers slipped away as she crawled deeper into the vent. Del snapped the latches back into place, then quickly turned, dropping one of her shoes off her feet and rubbing at her toes just as the guard reached the top of the stairs and spotted her.
"Ma'am? Everything ok?"
She looked up at him as if surprised, then laughed. "Oh, I'm fine, thank you. It's just…these are new shoes. I should have broken them in before deciding to walk in them all night."
She slipped her shoe back on and straightened. He nodded and touched his cap. "Have a good evening ma'am."
"You as well," she said, and headed back toward the stairs, holding her breath. When no alarm sounded and no other guards came rushing up, she knew they were safe-he hadn't seen.
Liara was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps, looking regarding some art on the wall with a look of deep concern. "She's in," Del whispered as she stepped past the asari, not looking at her. "So far so good."
She headed back through the crowds, weaving toward the bar area. Though it would take her a lot to become intoxicated, she didn't seek out a new drink. Sipping on champagne all night- which she didn't even particularly like- was not the top of her to-do list.
Near the bar, a group of patrons was chatting and laughing. Del ignored them, squinting at the menu as she reached the bar. Maybe a seltzer water, then, or something virgin-
"Buy me a drink?"
The familiar voice froze Del down to the molecular level. Slowly she looked over, her guts tightening a bit.
Fuck.
"Hello, Sha'ira," she said as the consort smiled at her. Then she nodded. "Sure…whatever you're having."
The Consort smiled at her, then nodded to the bartender. "I will have a Serrice Ice, please?"
"Excellent ma'am. And you miss?"
He looked at Del, who shook her head. "A…water."
"Water?" he looked almost offended. Del shook her head again.
"Sorry, a Thessian Temple. That'll do."
He gave her an odd look, then moved away to make the drinks.
"Is something wrong?" Sha'ira asked. "You do not seem yourself-"
Del turned toward her, ducking in close as she whispered. "I'm here undercover, Sha'ira," she said.
"I see."
"We can talk just…"
"I understand," Sha'ira smiled, then turned back as the bartender delivered the drinks. "Thank you."
Leaning more casually, she looked back at Shepard. "You look well."
"As do you," Del told her, picking up her own glass. "It's been a while."
"We both measure what constitutes a 'while' differently, I think…but yes."
"I'm surprised to see you here," Del said. "I shouldn't be. This is exactly the kind of place the Consort would be expected to show up."
Sha'ira smiled. "Indeed. I attend many of these events, when I have the time."
{Captain, I've reached the junction to disable the alarms and panic room lockdown,} Brooks said breathlessly.
{We are starting to walk her through the bypass,} EDI added. {You and Liara should head upstairs. Kahn should not immediately notice his security has gone down but it will likely only take him a minute or two before he does. You need to be prepared the moment we give the signal.}
"I'm sorry, Sha'ira. I have to go," Del said, setting her glass aside. The Consort simply nodded.
"Whatever your path, go safely," she said.
"I'll do my best," she said, then turned and headed toward the stairs. Liara was still lingering at the bottom, waiting for her.
{We nearly have the bypass done,} Brooks said as Del neared the asari. {Once the alarm is down it'll take me just a moment to get out of the vent area here and to the door of the panic room. I'll wait for you there.}
"Watch for guards," Del whispered.
As she reached Liara, eyeing the thin traffic going up and down the stairs, she saw Tal Salinos walking upward, a martini in his hand. The same guard who had come upstairs and talked to Del after Brooks had gone in the vent was a few steps ahead of him, making the next loop of his rounds.
{Th-there, I think I have it!} Brooks said.
{Confirmed, the security system is down,} Tali said. {Captain, go now.}
As one, Del and Liara left their position and headed up the stairs. They paused before they got to the top, shifting out of sight. The guard was standing near the vent that Brooks had entered, talking with someone who looked half drunk.
{Captain, are you in position?} Brooks asked. {I don't think the hall is clear. I can hear voices-}
"There's a guard talking to a drunk at the top of the stairs," Del said softly. "There may be another guard in the hallway. Stay where you are and don't move."
{R-right…} she said, her voice little more than a breathless hiss. {Not…moving.}
The guard at the top of the stairs dismissed the drunk, urging him to go back down to the party. The fellow wandered toward the other set of stairs and the guard shook his head, before looking into the hallway that lead into the private offices, one of which was where Brooks was now waiting pensively.
"Everything good sir?" he asked, speaking to someone outside of their line of sight.
A man's voice from the hall replied, "Just fine, thank you Corwin."
"Very good sir. Have a good night." The guard stepped back and headed away from them, down the other stairway where the drunk was carefully picking his way down. As soon as they were out of sight, Del and Liara hurried upward. Immediately they peered carefully into the hallway themselves. Salinos was chatting with an unfamiliar man as they stepped through one of the doors lining it.
Del ducked back so as not to be seen, waiting until she heard the sound of the door slide shut. "Fuck," she said softly. "That wasn't Kahn, was it?"
"No," Liara said. "I believe that was Victor Grell, Kahn's financial advisor. I am not sure who the other gentleman was."
"That was Tal Salinos."
"The fellow you were speaking with before? Yes, that makes sense. Salinos is very philanthropic, and he seemed familiar with Grell. He could be discussing a donation to Kahn's cause. I wonder if he realizes his donation is likely to go to weapon's smuggling and not the charity he believes it will?"
"Not our problem right now, we have to move. Brooks, you're clear." Del said. There were several sets of doors, most displaying as locked. As they headed toward the door at the end, Brooks appeared from one, looking pale.
"Thank goodness, I thought we were caught for sure."
"This is Kahn's office?" Del asked, as they got to the door at the end.
"Yes, it should be unlocked now. The door to the panic room is on the far side of it."
They slipped inside the posh office, unsurprised to see it was empty. The console sitting on his desk was dark-testament to EDI and Tali's success at shutting down the system. Hurrying across the room, Liara activated her omni-tool. "Here, this is the panic room door."
Del took hold of the large bookcase that she indicated, feeling her sore muscles burn as she swung it away from the wall. Behind it, the door itself was showing green.
Inside, at a smaller desk ringed with monitors and surveillance equipment, a man sat-motionless and slumped backward in his chair.
"Fuuuuuuck!" Del rushed over, but it was clear the man was dead. There was a hole in his forehead, and most of the inside of his skull was soaking the carpet behind him.
"Oh my God!" Brooks went pale, and as Del looked back over at her, her eyes were so huge above her hands they looked like they'd swallowed her face. "Wh-what happened? How did-"
{What's going on? What's the sit?}Garrus demanded. Liara had stepped past Brooks, and was now regarding the monitors and personal computer sitting on front of Kahn.
"Someone has beaten us to Kahn- he is dead," she said. "Tali, EDI, I need you to reactivate Kahn's personal computer in his panic room. Can you do that without turning the alarm systems back on?"
{Y-yes, should be able to…there. Is it working?}
The monitor cleared the error display and flashed up. Liara immediately accessed the controls. "Someone put in a deletion order on this console but I believe shutting down the system when we did cancelled it from completing. With luck I can retrieve the files the order was meant to erase."
"B-but wh-what…oh my God…"
Brooks sounded on the verge of a full blown panic attack. Del looked over at her. "Brooks!"
When she didn't respond, Shepard went over to her, grabbing her arm. "Brooks, look at me."
She waited for the eyes to focus, then nodded. "You can't lose your shit now. Go and close the office door…quietly. Make sure you're not seen. Then get back here."
"S-someone sh-sh-shot-"
"I know, and I know it's a mess, but hopefully we can salvage this if we don't lose our heads, ok?"
"Y-yes, yes, ok…I'm sorry, I-"
"I understand, but we're going to move through this. Go make sure things are clear and then get back here. That's your job, ok?"
"My job. Yes, I got it. I'm…I'm ok, Captain. Really."
"I know you are. Go on."
Brooks swallowed, then slipped out into the main office. Del headed back to Liara, who was still working on the console.
"That was very kind of you," Liara said.
"If Brooks loses it we all get caught," Del said.
"If that was all that concerned you, you would simply have knocked her unconscious."
Del stiffened. "I would never-"
"I know. Which is why it was kind of you," Liara said. "Ok, I think I have part of the information. It looks like a phone connection ident, and it matches the time stamp of the communication I intercepted. Given time I may be able to trace it-"
"Forget that. Call it," Del said, her look dark. "I want answers right fucking now."
