MASS EFFECT: WINTER EYES

CHAPTER 5: ALT HUMAN

"Keelah. What do you think is going on?" Tali's trembling voice came through the video display as the image showed her helmeted face. Despite living on their homeworld, the quarians simply couldn't disregard their long worn envirosuits. Careful limited exposure to their planet's atmosphere was the only way. Travel outside Rannoch still required the use of the suits despite their dismay. It was the only way to prevent illnesses to their planet until their bodies could adapt. Salarian doctors were providing medical assistance. The elder STG members who worked on the genophage were instrumental in providing immunoboosters in some of the candidates to eventually make the envirosuits obsolete even outside of Rannoch. A long-awaited desire of the quarians. Even though none of the occupants on the ship could see Tali's face, they felt could imagine the petrified look on her face. The shock of the failed assassination attempt did not wear off yet and the loss of an old comrade made things even worse.

"I don't know, Tali. We are still working on leads…I hope we find Miranda in time." Liara admitted softly.

"Are you safe? Did C-Sec provide you security?" Garrus spoke up.

"Yes. I have two officers outside my door." The quarian wrung her hands. "Why are they doing this now? I have an important conference tomorrow regarding the status of the talks."

"Rannoch would be too difficult to pinpoint you down." Liara checked their heading momentarily. "I will assign two of my best agents to be your personal escorts."

"Thank you, Liara."

"If I were you, I would get your tail back to Rannoch until this blows over." Wrex piped in from his seat. "C-Sec is useless as a salarian is for breeding."

Liara tilted her head at him in confusion by his statement. "I don't exactly what you mean by that…"

Garrus chuckled. "You never change, Wrex, do you?"

"I'm not going back to Rannoch." Tali answered, directing their focus to the task at hand. Within the turmoil, it was natural to reminiscence about good times. "I remember what Cerberus did when they infiltrated the Migrant Fleet…I won't let it happen again."

"We are not positive that this is in fact Cerberus." Garrus pointed out. "If Charon is, then they did a damn good job of hiding it."

"Stay safe out there." Tali softly said goodbye before the video connection terminated.

"At least we know she will be well covered." Liara allowed herself to momentarily relax back into her seat.

"For now. Two failed attempts won't bode well with their boss. They may start to get desperate. Send more than one assassin." Garrus gulped slightly. They really needed to know just how many agents Charon had. A dozen? Twenty? Hundred? What type of resources did the organization have? The knowledge they had so far about Shepard's ties was proof enough that they were well organized, smart, and loaded with creds. A very dangerous enemy.

"Glyph. Anything?" Liara called to her AI assistant.

The spherical holo image appeared at her station. "I believe that I have located the subject, Dr. T'Soni. Transports manifests indicate that Miranda Lawson arrived at Elysium a year ago with her sister, Oriana Lawson. No record of departure since that time. I have located her video contact information. Shall I initiate contact?"

"Yes. Hurry." Liara like the others now were on the edge of their seats. Could they reach their friend before her untimely death? Would the attempt on her life endanger her sister once again? When Macha Shepard was alive, she aided Miranda in rescuing her baby sister from their father, Henry Lawson, on Ilium. Then again at Sanctuary on Horizon. Oriana had no connection with Shepard except for those events. Would Erinyes really care? It didn't seem like life mattered to them. The MO was unknown and that made things difficult.

Minutes later, the dark black vid screen came to life revealing the image of Miranda Lawson. Her facial appearance remained the same. She seemed almost as ageless as Liara T'Soni. "Well, you're a sight for sore eyes." She smiled at them.

"I wish this call was on better terms…" Liara stated sadly, hinting at the conversation's mood.

"They never seem to be." Miranda replied more serious. The same tone she carried when she aided Shepard in her fight against the Collectors. "The line is secure. I guess you also heard about the news reports?"

"You following this too?" Garrus asked.

"Always have to be careful. I have had a target on my back since I left Cerberus. I never felt safe. Even after the Illusive Man died."

"We got one of them on Omega. He said they are coming after you next." Wrex brought up what they found out from Aria's torture event.

"Damnit…and Oriana?"

"No word about her, but this group is targeting individuals associated with Shepard." Liara pulled up the data on the screen next to her. "That's the only pattern that we can come up with. Without Shepard, no one really had a connection."

"The attack on Tali shows that they are getting closer to Macha's team. Any one of us could be on that list next after you."

"Ha!" Wrex laughed. "I would love to see them try against me."

Liara glared at him slightly. "Be serious, Wrex."

"I am." The krogan nodded.

"I knew that her being here with me was not a good idea, but she wanted to tag along. I thought Elysium would be safe." Miranda stared down as if she was caught up in her own thoughts and conclusions.

"It's better that she remains there with you. Keep her safe. They may already know that she's there and if she can get to her first, they may use her as some sadistic bait to draw you out." Garrus shifted his stance a bit as he leaned over Liara's shoulder to see the screen.

"Any idea when he or she may get here? How much time do I have to prepare?"

"That's the problem. We have no idea. They may already be there."

"We are heading to Elysium now." Liara motioned Wrex to change the coordinates to her location. "We can meet up somewhere."

"Negative." Miranda shook her head. "If they are here, then they know my place. I may have a tail on me. Hard to know what to look for.

"You got any weapons?" Wrex looked over from the controls.

"Yeah. I have a stash here. I always have to be cautious. My biotics may be a little rusty."

"Good time to practice."

"We need to draw them out. Get this guy before he gets her or gets away." Garrus pondered over their plan of attack. "Charon mustn't know that we are on to them. Let them think they have the advantage. Miranda, do you have a normal route on Elysium? If they have been watching you, they may have studied where you go every day to nail down a precise location for the attack."

"I do side work here for a security company. I normally go from my apartment through the markets to the transit station."

"Transit station?" Wrex looked over at Garrus. "Lots of people there. Could make the hit and get out."

Garrus shook his head. "Too messy. They would lose her easily in the crowd. Describe the market area, Miranda."

"Vendors located with a few hotels to where guests can watch the activity below. There's an asari architectural fountain in the center of the square."

Garrus glanced over at his teammates. "That could be it. Our assassin would position themselves at one of the hotels. A sniper's haven. Do you ever stop at the market?"

"In the morning. I stop at a human run coffee shop. Depending upon my day."

"She could stop there like normal, giving us time to try to nail down the assassin." Liara chimed in.

"It would have to be quick. It would be hard to scan all the hotels in time." Garrus frowned.

"We will look like a group of confused pyjaks down there scoping the place." Wrex grunted from his seat. "They will spot us."

"We will need to be discreet." Liara assured him. "Garrus, if our attacker is going to snipe out Miranda as you think, then can you find a place high enough to stay out of sight and have a good shot?"

"Yeah. I will need to setup a few hours before Miranda's usual time of travel." The turian nodded.

"If our attacker is on the ground, I can stay close, but far enough out of their field of range, should my biotics need to be called for." Liara continued.

"What about me?" Their krogan squadmate asked. "Don't leave me sitting here on this thing," He moped.

Liara gingerly placed her fingertips on right arm with a warm smile. "I would never forget about you, Wrex. I would feel safer if you are down there with me close by."

"Since the war, there has been more species here besides humans due to the relays 'construction." The dark hair woman brought to their attention on the vid display. "A lot of corporations have hired krogan and turians to be their security forces. I can obtain a guard's uniform for my company for Wrex and have a coworker leave it nearby for pickup."

"Sounds like the corporations on Noveria." Garrus commented, thinking back to all the private security he saw on the frozen world.

"Okay. Miranda, we can be at Elysium in about six hours. When is your shift?" Liara looked back to their old comrade.

"Ten hours from now."

"I will have an hour to find a good spot." Garrus sighed a little. "Not much time, but I'll see what I can do."

"Just have to move a little faster, Vakarian," Wrex smirked at him.

"I'll get things going here on my end," Miranda smiled grimly at the trio. "Thank you for not forgetting about me."

Liara flashed a smile back at her. "We never forget our friends."

"I hope this guy hurries up. This uniform is a bit small and it's riding me," Wrex's grumbly voice came through their ear pieces.

Garrus glanced down through his scope to the krogan to see his friend shifting back and forth in an uncomfortable manner. The turian couldn't help, but to laugh in seeing his friend's plight. "Gaining some weight, Wrex?"

He could see the krogan turning to glare in his direction. "Shut it, Vakarian."

"Focus, boys." Liara's voice cooed over the radio.

"Yeah. I mean my life is on the line here," Miranda joined in on the banter. Her voice slightly wavered from the sheer anxiety of the situation.

Guilt covered the turian's face as he returned to his task and glanced towards the nearby hotels. There were so many and they all had multiple floors. It was hard to really get a bead on one. Using his scope, he adjusted the zoom to get close as he could. An upgraded scope was a good investment on his part a few months ago. He wasn't too sure if the creds were truly worth it until that day. He could see practically into the windows where the tenants were staying. Most were gone that morning for their activities and housecleaning workers were tiding up the place. Was his gut feeling wrong? Maybe, their would-be killer would be on the ground. A lump formed in his throat. Even with Wrex down with Liara and Miranda, would it be enough? He mentally debated if he should move from where he was at. There was nothing going on and if Miranda lingered too long at the café, then it may tip off the assassin. Tapping his ear comm, he was about to tell the gang that they would have to do something else, when suddenly, movement from the eighth-floor window of the Caribbean Hotel caught his eye. The catch was so quick, that at first, he thought his blue avian eyes were playing tricks on him. He focused his scope on the location, but with the window's position, it was hard to see inside. The Caribbean was located to his right, so he couldn't see straight into the structure. Waiting a few seconds, he then saw the window opening and a hand at the ledge. His heart started to beat rapidly. "Heads up!" He said into the comm. "I got movement at the Caribbean. Stay sharp down there."

"Crap. I can't see that place from where I'm at. Liara?" Wrex spoke back.

"I'm near the hotel, but negative over here. What floor?" Liara tried not to look the way of the hotel. She nervously glanced over at Miranda who remained casual still. The dark hair woman was just finished paying the vendor and pretended to linger to enjoy a few sips of her coffee. "Don't walk away just yet, Miranda." The woman didn't answer, but she could tell that she was listening.

"Come on…" Garrus felt beads of sweat form on his brow as he kept his talon poised at the trigger. His breathing becoming a bit rapid. The hand went back inside momentarily and then the figure returned. This time, Garrus could make out the form: Human, a female, with a sniper rifle at hand! He raised his scope up from where her hands were to get a better bead on her head. "Time to see what you look like."

The woman was eying Miranda's direction and she seemed to be raising her rifle up to aim. Garrus focused his zoom and noted that the woman had black hair, but her facial appearance seemed very familiar to him. Taking his eyes away from the scope, he gaped at her direction without the aid of his rifle, then took to the eye piece again. Was his mind deceiving him? This woman looked exactly like Macha Shepard! Her eye color and hair color were completely different, but everything else remained the same. She was dressed in a light armor that resembled the type he had seen most Infiltrator class mercs used. Garrus' talon trembled at the trigger, something was holding him back from shooting her. He tried to shake the conclusion from his head. "No," He told himself out loud. "She's dead. That's not her, Garrus."

"Vakarian?" Wrex's voice boomed in his ear.

Garrus ignored his friend as he kept his sights on her. The assassin was homing in her scope. His heart stopped as he watched her get ready to take the shot. "Miranda, duck!" He yelled into the comm. The time for the element of surprise was over. As if everything was going in slow motion, he watched the woman fire, and then he looked down at the market streets in horror. Miranda ditched her cup and dove to the right to seek shelter behind an empty table, creating a protective biotic barrier over her. This sudden movement created a stir at the scene. Customers quickly moved away as they watched Miranda take the dive. Seconds later, the metal flooring broke apart where she was previously standing as the shooter's disruptor round hit the intended target's location. The struck caused even more chaos and customers began to scream as a stampede occurred.

The assassin stared at the missed shot with a look of shock on her face. Even with the aid of the scope, the shot was very precise and a true professional hit. Garrus remembered how good of a shot that Macha was, especially with a sniper rifle. This was no coincidence. He shifted the barrel slightly and squeezed the trigger. The round struck the window ledge about six inches from where the assassin was standing, startling her completely. The woman jumped back from the shot and then looked his way. Noticing that he was now standing there, she quickly moved away from the window. Collapsing his rifle back down its compact carry-mode for his armor, he set it back in place and took off from his location. "No, you don't!" His heart pounded in his chest as he took off towards the market where his friends here. He had to get to the hotel before Shepard came out. He wouldn't lose her. Tapping his comm piece, he reached out to the group. "Cover the hotel! Look for a black hair woman!" He would not disclose what he saw yet to the team. He had to be sure.

"I'm trying! Get out of the way!" Wrex bellowed in the comm at the people fleeing, preventing him to get through. His burly size didn't seem to matter, and he was having difficulty pushing through the wave.

"There are too many people!" Liara complained. "Garrus, what floor?"

"Eighth! Northern side." Garrus provided the details as he saw his teammates nearing the hotel entrance now. Miranda was nowhere in sight, but his view was obstructed by the chaos. He knew she would stay close.

Reaching the hotel, the guests at the lobby gasped at Wrex, Liara and Garrus as they stormed in. The people in that area could hear the commotion outside, but were oblivious as to what started in. "What's going on? Who are you?!" A turian guest barked at the squad.

Garrus ignored his question and glanced behind him to see Miranda coming in as well. At least now they were all together. "Wrex, Liara," He motioned to the elevator. He raced up the stairs, pumping his legs. A little exercise wouldn't hurt him. Miranda was closing in. Without the hotel schematics, he had no idea how many outlets this place had. For now, he had to choose the two obvious ones. Reaching his floor's destination, he saw Liara and Wrex up ahead in the hallway. There was no sign of anyone. Liara panted as she glanced around. "Which room was it, Garrus?"

The turian tried to remember the angle of the building from where he was. He looked down the hallway and then back up. "Maybe three doors up?"

Miranda moved to the determined room and knocked on the door. "Hotel security." She silently motioned for the others to be ready. Liara withdrew her pistol, while Garrus took out his hand canon. No response. Miranda knocked again. "Hotel security. I need you to open the door."

Wrex growled impatiently, took his shotgun and shot at the controls. With the controls fried, the door slid open to reveal the room. "We don't have time to be polite." The krogan said to justify his action as he stepped inside. "The room's clean."

Garrus noted the opened window. "This was the place."

Liara sighed. "Then they are gone."

Miranda glanced around the room and then went to the window to inspect the assassin's location. She squatted down to examine the floor and then took her omni to scan the area. "No hairs or fingerprints."

Garrus sighed hard in despair as he listened into their conversations. He replayed the whole ordeal in his mind. He could see Macha's face so clearly or, so he thought. "I can't believe it was her…..." His voice trailed off.

"Who?" Liara caught on to his softly spoken words. The others turned to face him.

Garrus lifted his eyes to look upon them. His mandible twitched slightly as he fought back his true emotions. "It was Shepard."

The room became deadly silent from the answer. Before anyone had a chance to speak up, they heard multiple weapons being armed. They turned to see three salarian security workers standing at the doorway with their guns aiming straight at them. "Elysium security! Hands up!"