Shepard, Kaidan, Vega, and Liara huddled around the kitchen table at Kaidan's parents' house, omni-tools and computers out, furiously researching as Jack and Miranda were out on the ground, checking up on the people Liara had marked for further investigation. The two were going to play a couple of radicals looking for a group that shared their viewpoint. Neither had received much time in the limelight during the war, so they didn't need to go overboard with their disguises. Miranda had her short haircut, and Jack cleaned up, though Miranda forced her to put on a dress that she had in her suitcase to further conceal her identity.

Kaidan downed his cup of coffee instantly. Sleep had eluded him last night, leaving him feeling sluggish. Jack and Miranda had taken earpieces with them, and Vega insisted on having Jack's receiver, while Shepard had taken up Miranda's. The morning hours passed by, and Jack and Miranda had yet to encounter anyone they considered suspicious.

Kaidan couldn't hear what was going on with Jack and Miranda, but just as he was considering what was for lunch, he heard Vega and Shepard talking excitedly. They apparently had found a suspect, and Shepard relayed to Liara information about him. "What's going on?" he mouthed to Shepard, who ignored him.

From what Kaidan could understand, Jack and Miranda were heading back. He waited until Shepard unclipped her headset to ask again. "What's going on?"

"They found someone. This Favian Tasso? He didn't come out and say it, but he was very suggestive when discussing the bombing," Shepard answered.

"Sounds like a douche from what I heard," Vega muttered, removing his headset too.

Kaidan followed up, "Why was he on the list?"

Liara turned around the vid screen she had been using. "His name has been dropped by some human supremacists who were interrogated. It was a stretch; all we had was some chatter about him. He might be the leader of his own type of group, but I don't know how they would have access to explosives. He's only a nightclub owner."

"So is he ex-Cerberus?" Shepard jumped in. Great, more human supremacist assholes. Hopefully, Cerberus hadn't risen from the dead. Kaidan was glad to be rid of them.

"I haven't been able to find a connection so far, but I will continue looking into it."

Kaidan got up to pour himself another cup, even though it was after noon. He needed to be on his A game if they were going out to see this suspect. "What's next?"

"That's the interesting thing," Shepard replied. "He asked Miranda to his club tonight. Apparently, Mr. Tasso liked what he saw."

"What about Jack?" Liara asked.

Shepard scratched at her ear, letting go a little laugh. "He wasn't into her. Miranda said she came off surly and nearly blew the whole thing."

"Well, what does a cabron like him know about anything?" Vega grunted, getting up from his seat. "We can't just let Miranda walk in there by herself."

"What are you suggesting then? Shepard go in there, or Liara? Not going to work."

"I'll go in there with her then."

"Not going to happen," Shepard sighed, lowering her head to the table. "We need someone less recognizable-"

"And less brash," Kaidan finished her sentence, but spoke quietly so only she would hear it. Shepard glanced up at him, her mouth turned up at the corner. It felt good to make her smile or laugh, even in the middle of a mission.

"If none of us can assist Miranda, who are you proposing to go with her?" Liara asked, grabbing Shepard's attention.

"Clearly someone human," Kaidan answered, mentally going through the possibilities. He knew good soldiers, and he was sure some were in the area, but it was also a matter of trust. He also didn't know them well enough to have them put their lives and careers in jeopardy.

"Anything? James? Kaidan?" Shepard prodded them, her tone almost pleading.

Vega shook his head. "I could ask one of my old squadmates, but…" Kaidan offered.

Shepard groaned. "I know someone."

"Who?" It was Vega who spoke up.

Shepard lifted her head up from the table, looking at Kaidan straight on. She didn't have to say anything else. He had already figured it out. "Are you serious? Him?"

"I trust him," Shepard whispered.

Vega bobbed back and forth between them, probably trying to piece together what they were talking about. Liara had gone still. Kaidan twisted away from her, resting his hands on the counter and straightening his back. Did she really expect him to be okay with this?

"Who are we talking about?" Vega butted in.

Both of them ignored the question, though Kaidan spoke up. "I'll go with Miranda."

Shepard started fidgeting with her omni-tool as if she was going to message her guy. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"It'll be fine, I'll wear a disguise," he assured her.

"Hey, why not me instead of him?" Vega grumbled.

"Because," Shepard huffed, her face registering defeat. "He can probably play the character better."

"And I'm a Spectre," Kaidan chimed in. "And you haven't even finished N7 training."

Vega rolled his eyes, and Shepard shot Kaidan a sharp look, but he didn't care. He was being honest, and he wanted to get back in the field for once. Especially if it meant not having to call upon Shep's old- or current- paramour.

Liara broke through the tension in the air, "If that's settled then, I suppose we should figure out the plan-"

"-and make him not look so much like a commander. Or a guy with a stick up his ass," Vega finished, shoving Kaidan out of the kitchen to begin what Kaidan could only hope wasn't a complete makeover.

The girls were gathered in the master suite, helping Miranda get ready and going over any last-minute mission briefings. Unfortunately, Jack and Miranda's bickering made it impossible to eavesdrop on the boys getting ready. She was curious to know if they were playing nice and what Kaidan's disguise would be. When Shepard heard footsteps and thought they were approaching, she picked up a makeup brush and pretended to be busy dusting Miranda's cheekbones, a ruse that annoyed Miranda.

"He's here," James announced, Kaidan at his side. "Mr. Davos Holmes."

Miranda guffawed. "That's an absolutely dreadful name."

"Yeah? And what's yours?"

"Elina Arias."

"Like 'airy ass'"? Jack snorted.

Shepard had to smile at the name of Kaidan's alter ego. Though Jack and Miranda were bickering, she was too busy checking out the new Davos Holmes. He was clean-shaven, having apparently ditched the stubble he sported these days. His wavy hair, typically cut short and slicked back with frightening amounts of gel, was concealed by a fedora. It was quite ironic considering Kaidan and Shepard had joked about fedoras one time, calling it the most douche-y hat of all hats. No sweater and cargo pants. Kaidan had a button-up shirt in steel gray, paired with jeans that were much narrower than she was used to seeing him wear. Shepard would be lying if she denied giving a quick peek at how well his butt fit in them.

"What do you think?" Kaidan caught her attention, putting on a suave accent.

"You look good?" She meant it to come out more sincere, but couldn't help giggling a bit. Shepard soon felt a wave of worry, however. "I'm still not sure about this."

"You know how limited the options are."

That might be true, but even though it'd be awkward and she told Colby she'd give him some distance, Shepard wished he was in Kaidan's place. His identity wasn't public, so logically, he was a better fit. Even though Shepard didn't want to admit it, there was another reason why. This was the first "mission" with the whole team since London, and she wouldn't be with her squad to help. Kaidan would be out there, and she could only watch his back from afar so much. He was unexpendable to her. Whereas with Colby, there was still a layer of professionalism between them despite everything, and Shepard was fairly certain they could detach whatever sort of relationship they had from their work. If she lost Colby, it would hurt. But she could survive.

"Shepard?" Kaidan stared at her intently.

She froze. "Yes?"

"We got this."

"I hope so." As Shepard dropped the brush on the vanity, she caught Miranda's eye, her eyebrow quirked.

"Elina is supposed to meet Favian at the Sphere in thirty minutes," Miranda commented. "Are you quite finished?"

Shepard blushed. "Yes. Your makeup is all set."

"Very well. Off we go."

The Sphere turned out to be an apt name for the club. Once Kaidan and Miranda had been let in to the club by a slightly threatening bouncer, they made their way through a corridor with a coat check and a cocktail waitress handing out free drinks. Miranda and Kaidan each accepted one of the glowing cocktails, but didn't take a sip. At the end of the corridor, the space opened up into a room that was spherical in shape. The ceiling was perfectly domed, and the translucent plexiglass dancefloor with pulsating lights revealed a similarly sloped floor below, though it was filled with water to form a pool. Holograms of space illuminated the room from the ceiling, where 3-D images swirled above the dancers' heads.

"Trippy," Kaidan observed. "Whoever came up with the concept of this place was probably on red sand."

Miranda nudged him, whispering loudly because of the pounding music. "Shut it and get into character." Louder, "You're so funny. You must get out more!"

A group of scantily clad women moved past the pair, and a couple of them threw some shade their way. Miranda didn't seem to notice, instead scanning the crowd for their target. Feeling out of place, Kaidan sipped at his drink, nearly spitting it out once he realized how strong it was.

"Easy there, soldier," Shepard chuckled in his ear. She was monitoring them from the club's video feed, which Liara had successfully been able to hack into. The rest of the team was crammed in a nearby van outside the club, listening to what they were doing.

Kaidan didn't respond, not wanting to appear as if he was talking to himself. He just gave a little shake of his head.

"Alright, I'll keep the line quiet."

Miranda was still peering at the dancefloor. Like many of the other women in the club, she was dressed in second-skin leggings that shined like a liquid and a dark, loose-fitting top that hung around her neck but was completely open at the back. Kaidan imagined it wasn't too far off from what Miranda would probably don to a club like his, if she did go, through there was also a sprinkle of Jack in her attire. Her eyes were ringed with some black stuff that made her raccoon-like, at least to him. He never understood makeup.

All of a sudden, a man popped out from the writhing masses behind Miranda, placing a hand on the bare skin of her shoulder. "Elina, you came."

Miranda jumped slightly, but relaxed upon seeing his face. "Favian!"

Favian was likely around Kaidan's own age, and Kaidan's current clothes weren't too dissimilar from his, though he had on a sharp black blazer that screamed he ran the place. His accent sounded foreign, like he was from Europe or somewhere in the Mediterranean. "What's this? You brought a friend?" His dark eyes were pointed directly at Kaidan.

Favian removed his hand from Miranda, but she snatched it back and held it to her body. "Yes, a friend. Davos here wanted to come out and see if he could find some charming man to take home with him."

Miranda regurgitated the story they had constructed earlier in the night, and it appeared to convince Favian. "Oh, I see. I have a friend that might want to meet you." He winked.

"Great," Kaidan replied, smiling.

It was so fast that Kaidan almost didn't catch it, but Favian frowned for a second and gave Kaidan a once-over. Kaidan brushed it off, assuming he was peeved that Miranda had brought him along. Either that or the guy was getting suspicious.

"I was wondering if you'd join me in the back for a drink?" Favian's hand dropped lower down the white expanse of Miranda's back.

Miranda was unfazed. "I'd like that." She gave Kaidan a glance, seemingly indicating that she would be fine and he should follow.

"Does your friend here share your sensibilities?" Favian whispered in her ear, though Kaidan could hear it.

"He does," she answered, just as quietly and seductively.

At that, Favian broke contact, a wide smile on his face, gesturing to a door at the back of the dancefloor. "Then he's welcome to join us."

"Excellent work," Liara's voice came out through his earpiece.

Kaidan titled his head. "Sounds like fun."

Favian held out his hand to Miranda, and she took it, letting him lead her through the crowd to the door. Kaidan followed right behind, occasionally pushing and shoving to get by. Once they got to the door, Favian had his eyes scanned in order to open it up. For a club, having a room with an eye scanner was certainly suspicious. Even more suspicious was the way the door clinked shut with a loud mechanical locking noise. Curious, Kaidan turned around to examine it. It was soundproof and there was an eye scanner to leave the room, too. He twisted his body a little to ensure the microscopic camera he had as a button his shirt picked up images of the door.

"That's ominous," Shepard noted over the comm line.

Favian led them down the hallway, which was completely surrounded in stainless steel, though there were vid screens playing slideshows on the walls. They came to a stop at a small lounge area with a bar. There were booths made of rich burgundy leather, gold fixtures, and deep red quilted wall padding, which Kaidan could bet was soundproof. It all looked very luxe in a turn of the 20th century kind of way. The slam of the heavy door also indicated that the lounge was quite secure.

"Take a seat anywhere." Favian gestured at the booths and the bar stools. "Can I get the two of you a real drink? I hate the cheap vodka shit." He pointed at the drinks they had carried in from the entrance.

Miranda began to speak, but paused. "A shot of tequila would be nice." Kaidan had never seen her have one before; she usually held a martini glass at any of the parties or functions he'd been to where she was present.

"I'll have a whiskey, if you don't mind." Luckily, his character was also a fan of the drink, or so he told himself. Miranda squeezed into a corner booth, and Kaidan decided to sit opposite her. Rather than call a bartender of some sort of henchman, Favian made their drinks himself. Kaidan didn't have visuals of the bar from where he was positioned, but Miranda appeared to be keeping an eye on their suspect.

He returned with the drinks, a glass filled with a clear liquid for him. He slid in next to Miranda, leaving no space between the two of them. "Should we have a toast?"

"Why not?" Miranda flirted, lifting her shot glass. Kaidan shrugged and joined in.

"To new friends," Favian started, and they all repeated it, touching glasses. Favian swallowed down the entirety of his drink, and Kaidan felt compelled to do the same. It was very good whiskey, but it was also a generous pour.

"Why couldn't I be there having drinks instead of crammed in this box?" Vega grumbled in his ear.

"You dolt, you want to be locked in some backroom with a potential murderer?" Jack retorted. Kaidan noticed that Miranda smirked, obviously in response to what she was hearing, too.

"Refills?" Favian asked.

Kaidan peered at Miranda from across the table. They couldn't afford to lose focus. "You don't have to spoil me with more of that fine bottle you got there."

"And I've had far too many of those dreadful glowing drinks at the front," Miranda lied through her teeth.

"Alright, but if you would like another, just let me know." Favian sighed, "I have to say, it's always great to be able to meet people with the same viewpoint. People who are for the same cause."

"It's refreshing," Miranda agreed.

Kaidan nodded, interested to see where this was going.

"With all these aliens stuck here on our planet… ugh. That's why I created this place. We humans need a refuge, a place to be surrounded by our own kind," Favian continued. "We are the superior race."

Miranda and Kaidan agreed with him, which caused Favian to smile widely. "Now that we've had a drink and we're on the same page, would you like to play a game, Elina and Davos?"

"I don't like the sound of this," came Shepard's voice.

Miranda circled her finger around the rim of her glass. "I like games."

"Why not." Kaidan could think of many reasons why not.

There was an intercom system at the bar, and Favian got up to use it. "Bring them in," he spoke into it.

After a few short seconds, there was a rhythmic series of knocks at the door, and Favian opened it up for their new guests. In came three humans, clearly employees, leading in two turians at gunpoint. He promptly shut the door behind them, and the goons forced the turians to their knees in the center of the lounge.

"So we have a little thing we like to do with our new friends, to see if they're ready to go the next level. Stand up," Favian commanded Miranda and Kaidan.

They both climbed out of the booth, following when Favian waved at them to stand next to the men who were currently holding weapons at the back of the turians' heads.

"Everybody likes to hate on batarians, don't they? Personally, my least favorite aliens are still the turians. How can you get past the First Contact? Buggery fucks."

Kaidan's stomach rolled. He tried to catch Miranda's eye, but she was staring dead ahead.

"Take their guns."

The man to Kaidan's right grasped his hand, pressing the gun into it. Now it was Kaidan pressing the muzzle at the back of the unknown turian's skull. Favian's gunman kept his grip on Kaidan's wrist.

"What the fuck," Shepard exclaimed. Kaidan prayed the man next to him hadn't overheard.

"Kill them," Favian commanded, his face perfectly blank.

Kaidan hoped it was a joke. He glimpsed at Miranda again, but she was focused on the gun in her own hand. The comm line was silent; all he could hear was the pleading of the two turians in front of them. Kaidan's gun was shaking, and though the turian was upset and twitching, he was afraid he was shaking as well.

"Who are they?" Kaidan dared to ask, buying time.

"Does it matter what it is?" Favian sneered, though he seemed to do so with merriment.

"Guys," Shepard finally spoke up. "You need-"

The sound of a gunshot left Kaidan's ears ringing. The compact space caused the blast to reverberate throughout. Kaidan wondered if perhaps his trigger finger had slipped without him registering it, but the turian in front of him was moving. Miranda's wasn't.

"Well done, Miranda!" Kaidan strained to pick up what Favian was shouting. He thought he heard him call Miranda her name. Her real name. Miranda was unresponsive, perhaps in shellshock at her own actions, the evidence visible at her feet. There was sound being emitted from his earpiece, but it was difficult to discern what was being said and by whom.

"Mr. Alenko- I'm sorry, Commander Alenko- can't say I'm surprised, but I must admit I'm disappointed. Shoot him," Favian demanded.

Kaidan flinched, throwing up a biotic barrier, but no gunshots were hurled his way. Instead, one of the goons fired at the turian that was alive, killing him.

"Impressive," Favian regarded Kaidan's biotics. "I wonder if Miranda could do better. I've heard so much about her over the years." He turned to address her. "Sweetheart, would you be a dear and disable his barrier?"

Miranda snapped out of it, but she didn't make any move. "Why?" It was evident that she was attempting to be nonchalant, but Kaidan could tell she was on edge.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt him." Kaidan very much doubted that. Nevertheless, after another moment's hesitation, Miranda approached him, but he went ahead and dropped his barrier.

"Alenko, what are you doing?!"screamed Shepard. Funny, now he could hear her.

"Thanks for being so cooperative, commander. Miranda, I'm going to need you to kill our dear friend."

Miranda jolted, almost dropping the gun that remained in her hands. Kaidan trusted her, but they were certainly in an impossible situation. Three armed men and Favian in here… they could probably take them down, but it might be a hell of a firefight eventually getting out of the club. It didn't help that Favian's goons had their guns trained right on Miranda and Kaidan.

"Any day now," Favian sighed.

Miranda raised her weapon, and Kaidan noted how it vibrated in her grip. She lifted it nearly to his head level, her gaze at him steady.

"Miranda Lawson, if you kill him, I will-" Shepard's tone made his chest ache.

A barrier went up around Miranda and Kaidan, stunning him. Must have been Miranda's doing. Bullets ricocheted off of it, and Miranda disabled one of the guards with a warp, while Kaidan used his biotics to take down the other two. That left Favian, whom Miranda pinned to the wall.

"Good job!" Liara cheered them on; Vega and Shepard, too.

Struggling to breath, Favian managed to continue speaking. "You failed the second test, Miranda. Was hoping you had relapsed and gone back to your old ways. Would have liked you to be a part of our organization."

"Back to Cerberus? I don't think so," she growled. "How do you know me?"

"We've never met, but I've heard things about you. I was a lowly bolt in Cerberus' machine."

Kaidan interrupted them. "Were you involved in the bombing at the coffee shop?"

Favian's head was drawn to Kaidan, but he didn't answer. All he did was smirk.

"Answer him," Miranda pressed her gun to his head.

"I'll spill." He smiled. "But only to Commander Shepard."

"What?" Kaidan sputtered. He reeled it in. "She's not here."

Favian coughed. "Bullshit. I'm sure she's around."

"So if she comes in here to speak to you, you'll answer all of our questions?" Miranda asked.

"And we'll let you go, if you promise to leave here with nobody hurt, nobody arrested, like nothing happened."

"I don't think so, buddy," Kaidan laughed.

"Then my lips are sealed," he sang.

Kaidan heard chatter on the comm line. "We'll leave without him, no fight."

Miranda responded, not caring that it was revealing they had earpieces. "You can't be serious."

"Just do it!" Shepard barked. "We have it figured out."

Kaidan pressed his lips into a firm line. He didn't like this. Not one bit. At the same time, it seemed like he'd have to trust Shepard. "Okay. We're not going to cause any trouble." His eyes dropped down toward the dead. Blood had seeped across the metal floor, and Kaidan struggled to remain focused.

"And Shepard?"

"Not happening." His response was instant. Drag Shepard into the depths of this club that played host to a terrorist group and place her directly in the hands of the enemy? No.

Shepard, however, shocked him. "I'm coming in, let him know. The whole team's coming with. Have him direct us to a backdoor or something, and we'll meet you." As if Shepard could sense Kaidan's frustration, "It's okay. All of this is on video. He's not stupid." A pause. "Well, not that stupid, I hope. We've been in worse pickles before."

Kaidan didn't argue with her because he knew it was pointless. She was coming in no matter what.

Shepard stood in front of their suspect, Favian Tasso. Miranda and Kaidan both had him elevated and restrained using their biotics. Anyone in that predicament would probably feel uneasy, but Favian was as cool as a cucumber.

"Ahh, Commander Shepard. A pleasure," he preened upon her arrival.

Shepard rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her. "Start talking."

Favian glanced around the room, taking in the sight of her whole team and some of his henchmen, the two factions keeping watch. "What do you want to know?

"How about you tell me if you were behind the bombing."

"My friends and I were involved, yes."

"Why? How?"

"Why? Well, admittedly, the idea wasn't mine. I thought bombing one of those alien slums would be a great deal of fun. Someone suggested the idea to me, from a friend to a friend, that killing the great Commander Shepard and innocent humans would generate more thinking along our lines. Despite the causalities, it seemed worthwhile. While I admire you, many others in my group would be happy to see you die for what you did to Cerberus over the years."

"I'm sure they would," Shepard growled. "And how did you do it?"

"I don't know; my second-in-command took care of it."

"Cut the bullshit."

"We had people follow you. They knew you'd be at the location around a certain time. They were planted in the restroom, as you know."

"Where did you get that grade of explosives?" Favian kept his lips shut, something Shepard did not appreciate. "Deal's off. You promised to tell all."

Favian grimaced, but gave in. "We have a contact who works at a chemical manufacturing company in Alberta."

Shepard heard Kaidan's grunt, but her attention was focused squarely on the man she was interrogating. "I'm going to need you to give me the name."

"Claudia Lee," he spit out.

Shepard checked to make sure Miranda was copying all of the information. Miranda gave a slight nod, and Shepard continued. "And the shooting?"

"What? Your pilot that got shot. Sorry, darling, wasn't us."

"I already told you that you have immunity-"

"Can't help you out-"

"Look here, you prick." Shepard grabbed the guy's face. "Spill. It."

Shepard felt arms pulling at her, trying to get her to back up from Favian. All he did was laugh. "You think we would miss those shots? Must've been some second-rate sniper from the batarian military. I'd choose someone who could clean up."

"Like you cleared up the coffee shop? Killed all of those people, but you didn't-"

"Shepard," Kaidan warned, his grip tightening around her waist as she lunged toward their smartass suspect. She didn't fight him, instead slackening her body.

This Favian had been hesitant, but he had seemingly revealed all he knew about the attacks. Lingering questions about Joker's murder hung over her, even though she was doubtful she could get further with him. Time was also not on her side, and they needed to wrap up fast. "Fine."

"Fine? You're just going to let him go now?" Kaidan's outrage was evident.

"Yes. Have a good night, Mr. Tasso."

"Excuse me if I hope to never cross paths with you again, Ms. Shepard."

Shepard signaled the team to follow her out, and they successfully backed out of the club without any bloodshed. Once they were a safe distance from the building, Kaidan turned on her. "You're going to let him go?"

"I am, but the Alliance is not. They should be arriving in…" Shepard glanced down at her 'tool. "Two minutes."

"How?"

"I explained to Hackett that you and Miranda were on a date at this new club downtown, and I got a call that you had run into some trouble, and I thought the guy might have a warrant out."

"There's no concrete proof! He's going to argue that he was under duress!"

Shepard shrugged. "Slave trade, kidnapping, weapons charges, drug dealing… there's enough to pin him down for the rest of his life from other investigations."

"What about Hackett? He's going to be pissed that we stormed in there."

"That's why I had to give them that cover story. Favian might tell the truth about what happened, but I don't really care at this point."

Kaidan stayed silent as they all loaded back into the van, only speaking once the engine had started up. "You told Hackett that Miranda and I were on a date?"

Everyone exploded with laughter at Kaidan's incredulous delayed respond. He merely shook his head.

"Yeah, he's not going to believe that."

"Maybe, maybe not," Shepard grinned. "I could see it."

"As if," Miranda deadpanned.

That caused them all to giggle even harder. Once the noise had died down, the mood was somber again.

One mystery solved, one remaining. She wanted to call it a successful night, but this was only a small victory. Worse yet, she was as nearly confused as before, and the next step was completely unclear.