AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, this is a week late, isn't it? Sorry I lost track of time with some hectic almost going back to work, then not going back to work, family stuff, so on so forth. So, my apologies there. So. Tomorrow morning, as I'm updating this, I'm off to the Seattle area to meet up with a close group of friends for the second time, (first time was in Austin for RTX last summer) and will be back in Florida Sunday. But I'll be at the family reunion on a beach that will last until the following Saturday, and then I'll actually be home. Don't worry, everyone's playing it safe with masks and sanitize stuff. (But this meetup has been planned since the first week of January)
Also just in case anyone's interested in a new hobby I've been getting into (if you're not I don't blame you, go right on and enjoy the chapter.) But for a while now, ever since a friend introduced me to If the Emperor Had a Text to Speech Device around... November, I've been getting more and more into Warhammer 40k. (TTS is still my preferred... timeline, let's call it, but that's not really too significant is it?) Been having plenty of fun with Dawn of War, Space Marine, Deathwing, and Battlefleet Gothic. Good games, great universe, I encourage giving it a shot. And with 9th edition of the tabletop coming round I've been looking into giving tabletop a shot. I may not have the money to spend on Minis or the steady hands to paint models myself, but that's what Tabletop Simulator is for. First army list I've put together? The Beautifully Glorious Golden Gods of the Imperium of Man, the Custodes. Praise be the Emperor, one of the handful of actual good guys in 40k. (Though I admit Khorne and the Orkz are both fun as well as Imperium stuff. While anything even closely related to Slaanesh is more revolting and eye gougingly disgusting than the most horrid thing Nurgle has ever cooked up in his garden. Seriously. Y'all nasty.) The second army I'm going to be putting together is the Salamanders. Sure, I've heard all about how Tabletop wants less space marine players, but... Vulkan... I like Vulkan... And I also honestly like and appreciate the touch of humanity in the metaphorical sense they bring to the Imperium and 40k. Anyways, that's enough for now, hope y'all enjoy, I gotta get to bed.
Commander John Shepard
A full day had passed since Tali and I had enjoyed our night on the town, and Tali had a surprising, but very welcome growth of confidence. Admittedly, I had procrastinated on contacting the Rachni queen. But I know I can't, and shouldn't, avoid it forever. Yet still I did. The day in between, Garrus had noticeably only returned to the ship around noon. And the day wasn't without event. I ran into Gianna Parasini, having that beer she owed me and helped her catch an Asari with tech plans and blueprints she stole off Noveria. Ran into Shiala from Zhu's hope, her skin now green like the old Thorian clones. And I had to help her get Zhu's Hope out of a bad, fine printed contract meant to get the Colonists medical aid and tests to make sure that they weren't suffering from adverse effects. But the true contract was highly invasive, and very expensive. I had to talk to an embittered, old racist Asari. It took some time, but I eventually convinced her, as she let slip the source of her hate is dead family, I guilt tripped her just enough for her to realize she was a bitch, and she relented.
But the most interesting thing by far, was a Krogan reciting poetry to his Asari girlfriend. I wasn't sure at first if the "Blue Rose of Illium" was being harassed or not at first so I asked, but with my offer of help it all came clear. She wanted a break to think about how serious she was compared to how serious he was, considering he wanted kids. She had her doubts, because the Krogan Genophage might be ulterior motivation. Now, it absolutely rubbed me the wrong way when, in her explanation, she mentioned how for most relationships the Asari can just "stick it out" a few decades and move on, but how Krogan or Asari are a lifetime commitment. I held my tongue, less than positive retorts running through my head. But in the end, I just had to tell her what she already believed. If the Krogan was reciting poems in public for her, it probably was more dedication to the relationship than simply wanting a babymaker.
And today, it was already close to sunset. Not really doing that much until five minutes ago, when I had received a message from Liara. 'My apartment. ASAP. Bring the others, weapons. Trust only yourselves." Followed by an address to provide to a cabby. Tali was already with me when I got the message, so I simply had to forward the message to Garrus when we made our way to the armory to get equipped. Garrus joining soon after.
"Seems Chakwas doesn't know about this. Not yet, at least," Garrus remarked.
"Or she's waiting until after we get back to kick me in the crotch hard enough to make me taste my own sack," I muttered, securing my right gauntlet.
"Your what?" Tali asked, as Garrus chuckled. I simply looked up at her with a raised brow as she seemed to make guesses in her mind. I could picture her face scrunching up as she quickly figured out what was most likely. I glanced over at Garrus.
"Surprised you knew that. Thought Turians were all internal," I remarked.
"I've worked with plenty of Humans in C-Sec," he reminded me. I simply shrugged and we finished our preparations, then made our way to a cab, and to Liara's apartment building. Obviously, we'd have to take an elevator up to her floor rather than simply parking in her garage. When we were coming in to park at one of the entry/lobby levels, flashing red and blue lights relatively far off and above caught our attention. I shared a glance with Tali, as we were again sharing the backseat, and Garrus turned his head slightly to glance at us. I simply nodded at him, signaling that I was aware. We paid quickly once the cap set down and rushed into the lobby, there were several officers on guard and likely keeping anyone from going to the same floor as Liara's apartment for a time. Naturally, seeing three armed and armored unknowns rush in, even though our weapons were holstered, was not a welcome sight.
"Hold it, state your business," one of the Officers, a Turian male held out his hand and readied his pistol, though did not aim it yet.
"Council Spectre. They're with me," I answered, holding out my Omni-tool and triggering it to show my credentials. He lowered his weapon with quite the look of confusion. "Two Spectres?" Now it was my turn for surprise. But the questions I was getting would be answered quickly, I've little doubt about that. We simply entered an elevator and took it up to Liara's floor and after a minute of ascension, the elevator stopped. Another pair of officers with rifles pointed down were acting as guards for the floor, but didn't react to our arrival, likely having been warned, and pointed us to the left, towards the direction of Liara's apartment. When we arrived the door was open, a holo police line blocking and an officer standing by it typing into a data pad for a report, and the present sound of whistling air.
"Sir," The Asari greeted, having also been informed and stepped aside from us.
"What's happened here?" I asked.
"Your fellow Spectre wishes to give the report," she answered as another form walked down the stairs that lead to Liara's bedroom. An Asari in blue and white armor with a gold trim along the plates of the armor, the Spectre logo on her right shoulder. Her voice and face both familiar as she began, but I couldn't put a name to her immediately.
"The long and short? Someone tried to kill your friend, Shepard."
"Tried, that's good to hear. But you… Pinnacle Station. I met you there. Tel…? Telva?"
"Tela Vasir. Been quite some time, hasn't it?"
"I could say it's been a lifetime," I remarked, which actually got a chuckle out of Vasir as Tali turned her head and gave me what I could visibly picture, just from the shifting of her brow and eyes as a "What the fuck?" expression. Vasir then turned her attention to the officer.
"Thank you for your assistance, officer. Your people are dismissed."
"But this-" she began.
"Two Spectres, officer," Vasir interrupted. Her argument caught in her throat, and escaped only as a sigh as the other officers present shared glances and began packing up. As the Asari Police captain was about to leave I put my hand in front of her, stopping her and turning her.
"First Once this is wrapped up, I'm willing to send a report to fill in gaps for the Precinct. Second, do not have any of your officers out searching for Liara T'Soni. The one trying to get her killed likely has agents in local Police. Instead, if they stumble upon, or are stumbled upon by her, she is to be protected, but not hindered, any such officer is not to report their position, but are to instead contact my ship," I sent those contact details as I went through that point. "Third and most important, have all Nos Astra Emergency services on a heightened, maybe even crisis level of standby. As much as I hate and have no control over this reputation, explosions and gunfire follow me like my own shadow," I managed a grin in an attempt to reassure.
"I'll send word immediately, sir."
"Thank you. I won't keep you; time is of the essence." The Asari nodded in response and turned and left, activating her Omni-tool to make calls. Vasir was waiting for me to return my attention to her as we spread into the apartment. The first thing I noticed was a bullet hole in the window. Must have been an armor piercing round of some kind considering the glass was blast proof. But with the lack of blood on the floor, Liara was likely unharmed. Perhaps a strong enough barrier for what velocity remained in the bullet. Dropped her drink though, considering the shattered wine glass on the floor.
"Considering you're here so quickly, either you already had business with your friend and expected violence or heard of the attempt as it happened."
"The former. What's been uncovered so far?" I asked.
"Approximately twenty-five minutes ago, someone took a shot at T'Soni. As you can guess, they failed. Apartment logs it took almost four minutes for her to finally leave the building. If she knew you were coming, she probably left something for you. But we haven't found anything like that yet. "Paranoid kind of person with barriers on in the private safety of one's own home. Paranoid, but clever. Lifesaving. But now it's my turn. You know who's gunning for her?"
"Well, I know who Liara's gunning for. I know Eclipse has a bounty on me and probably would use a friend as bait, but I get the sense they wouldn't be willing to target Liara. This is absolutely retaliation from Liara's target, "I remarked, scanning the room for anything that stands out from when we were last here.
"And that would be?" Vasir prodded. I glanced back at her. I'd bet a good sum of credits you've got a reason for being here you're not about to spill. So long as you have secrets, I'll keep mine."
"Presumptuous," Vasir remarked. "Correct, but still presumptuous. Go ahead, have your look around, see where Liara would have hidden something," Vasir turned, then went to shift through some papers that got messed around. First thing I went to check was my old armor. Nothing new along the case, or the armor, I felt around the display stand, but nothing. I remember how there was a painting of Illos back by the kitchen, that was my second guess. Depicting the ruins with the border some fine golden and ornate design. I felt around the border, looked behind it, nothing.
"Garrus, run a scan of this for me, would you? I'm going to check her room." Garrus didn't need to respond with words but began running his scan through all the light spectrums and anything else he saw fit. While I took the stairs up to Liara's room and opened the door. The bedroom was more or less undisturbed by the looks of it. The fish tank and the fish within were fine, the display case with carved stone from Illos was undisturbed, might have something, but what caught my eye was a holo-picture of the first Normandy on one of the end-tables by her bed. No other pictures, only a lamp on the other. It felt out of place, so alone. I picked it up to look around the frame, but the moment I touched it the image changed to a Prothean dig site. An obvious clue. Again, I went through the house, feeling around any display case or decoration that had a connection to Protheans. The one in the bedroom had nothing, the painting did nothing, but one display by the kitchen, more vertical than horizontal with some taller rocks, also carved stone from Illos most likely opened a small, disc tray like slot with an OSD. A backup, more likely than not. I patched it into my Omni-tool. There wasn't a text file, just a single audio file, and I patched it over our private squad frequency.
"What do you have for me, Sekat?" Liara began the call.
"It was tricky, but you paid for the best," this, Sekat responded. A Salarian considering both the name and voice. "But you paid for the best. I can at least narrow it down to a cluster. At most, a system."
"How soon?"
"Not long. Come to the Dracon Trade Center office."
"Baria Frontiers?"
"Considering… it's my only office there, yes," the Salarian answered with a hint of nerves. "You're making me nervous, T'Soni. What kind of trouble should I be expecting?"
"Relax, Sekat. I'll see you soon."
"Vasir!" I called out. "You got a car?"
"Yeah, you got something?"
"Dracon trade center."
Commander John Shepard
Why am I not surprised? Honestly why am I not fucking surprised. Almost the moment after we arrived, a series of explosions went off in the trade center, second, third, and fourth floor. Some wreckage having fallen on civilians down at the parking level, the shockwave just knocking others off their feet. Vasir got serious.
"I'll go from the top; you work through the bottom." I just nodded, and the three of us readied our weapons, and I called EDI as we began rushing in.
"EDI, get Mordin, Chakwas, and Lia to the Dracon trade center immediately to help provide medical attention. Send the recall and have half the ground team secure the area for the medics and the other trailing us as backup."
"Acknowledged, Commander. Nos Astra Emergency services are already en route. I shall inform them of the incoming aid." I didn't respond as we entered the main area of the trading center's first floor. One of the support pillars had collapsed with a hole in the roof above it, the lights flickering at best, off at worst, minor fires and bodies of civilians strewn about. It was difficult to tell how many might just be unconscious and how many might be dead. There were no explosions down here after all. The elevator in the corner was clearly offline, so we approached the stairs. A body at the base appearing to have been kicked down from before the bend in the flight of stairs. And shot in the head, little of it remaining.
"EDI warn emergency services that armed hostiles are likely present. We've found an executed civilian. Will keep you posted." We made our way up the stairwell and at the top, the second floor, we found only more bodies, more wreckage. But now bullet holes, slaughtered civilians, shot full of holes. But our attention was taken by a wheezing gasp up another set of stairs. We hurried along to see another civilian, a human male sitting in a large pile of blood. I ran over and immediately started applying medi-gel, but I knew it was too late for him. At least it will make him more comfortable.
"M-Mercs… came through the smoke. Left… bombs. K-Killed every… one… Thank you," he wheezed again.
"You were helpful, we'll stop them," I gave him some reassurance in his final moments. The man's eyes struggled to remain open as he went unconscious. Likely still alive for the moment but won't last much longer without a blood transfusion. And that's not something any of us have. Baria frontiers was to the left, the door only a few meters away, but with an explosive device near it that hadn't gone off. I scanned it from a distance confirming that it was not armed.
"EDI warn them that there is an unarmed explosive device, military grade on the second floor by the entrance to Baria frontiers. Might be more." We passed through the door to Frontiers to an antechamber, a sign in panel still active with Liara's name on it. Only a few minutes ago. If this was where Liara was going, and with this level of efficiency, they might have a team ready to clean up and verify a kill. We lined up to breach and clear out of the antechamber to the lobby, a still intact glass window separating where what might be an office room while towards the right would be where we would travel into and through the Office space, with the office's fire suppression systems online, sprinkling water down all around. Room was clear, and as we began to move forward and around, there was a metal clang as a metal object hit the ground. Shit.
"Down!" I shouted, diving to the side and on top of Tali, expecting shrapnel, rather than the high-pitched whine followed by ringing in the ears. A flashbang. I got up, sharing a nod with Tali as she confirmed she was alright and gunfire over our heads, shattering the glass.
"Garrus?" I called out, having difficulty even hearing myself. If he did respond I didn't hear it, but I looked over to see him having gotten into cover and shaking his head. Knowing what close quarters we were in, I took out my shotgun and peeked over to see a fully black armored merc, no designs of any kind charging towards the low cover we were behind likely with the intent of mantling over or peeking over to unload in us without cover or even through our barriers. Minimal aim was all I needed to pull the trigger and knock him back to the ground, armor and flesh shredded. A point-blank shot. Tali fired beside me as I took aim at another merc, there appeared to be three left. I did actually have to aim this time, but these mercs all have shields, but given the stagger, it seemed enough pellets went through to wound. Though it's hard to tell how badly. I wouldn't get to put him down unfortunately, as he returned to cover. I ejected the mostly spent thermal clip, swapping it for a fresh one while I swapped to my rifle, seeing Tali fire off another shot as she returned to cover. Ears still ringing but starting to clear up somewhat. With my rifle I was able to make more shots count as the Mercs engaged us in a more traditional firefight. Tali at least able to use her shotgun as a matter of suppressive fire. Even if she wasn't able to hit and wound her target, she'd leave their shields down. Only when two were left was I able to notice gunfire that had to have been coming from Garrus and we were able to finish them off, Garrus muttering curses as he kept shaking his head when the immediate threat was passed.
"EDI," I began. "Armed hostiles confirmed within the building. Mercenaries of some kind, all black armor uniform. Appear well trained, armed, armored, and shielded. The trade center needs an immediate ground and aerial lockdown. Acknowledge."
"Acknowledged, Commander. The Nos Astra Police Commissioner is requesting direct and personal confirmation from you."
"Patch him through, we're continuing to move." A moment later the voice of an Asari came through.
"Command-"
"Apologies, Commissioner but I am within an active combat zone. I'm sending my credentials to verify my identity and status as well as that as my team. However, I must keep updating you through the proxy of my VI as it is the only secure line of communication," I explained as we moved through the first set of cubicle office spaces. We turned a corner for a hallway with a hole in the building to find a firing line at the far side. "Shit!" I exclaimed as we had to dive into cover yet again. Myself in low cover at the front of the squad, Garrus at high cover along a support beam near the back, Tali in a doorframe behind me. "Will that do?"
"Your cooperation is appreciated, Commander. If you signal us your floor, I can provide a CT squad as reinforcements."
"I see a hole in the wall to the outside, I will send a flare through momentarily. However, I can only have your men following behind and securing the area, anyone could be compromised, Commissioner. Even you. Send provide transport for Justicar Samara to join us at our location… south of the flare and the hole. Is she present at the trade center?"
"Affirmative. Give em hell." Took longer than I'd like but having Samara will give us the offensive and defensive boost we really need right now.
"Garrus, Tali," I called out, tossing Tali my rifle. "Suppressive fire, now!" I ordered, loading my pistol with a flare round and firing it out as they fired at the Merc's cover, unable to get any quality shots as they couldn't aim with the Merc's own suppressive fire, just enough to force them into cover until the two of them had to reload. With the opening I was able to send the flare out of the building and we returned to cover, Tali offered my rifle back with a gesture but I shook my head. "Garrus, gonna need some skeet shooting from you," I bounced a grenade in my hand to explain for me.
"You got it," he responded. Garrus and Tali began suppressive fire once again, Garrus being less committal as he needed to ensure accuracy, giving me the chance to stand and judge the throw, tossing it in the middle of the firing line at the far end of the hallway. And I saw it detonate perfectly thanks to a well-placed shot by Garrus, the explosion and shrapnel tearing into them, the closest two within the bounds of their barriers even, as bright lines shone into the hallway through the hole in the wall, sirens wailing, the police transport turning and door opening as Samara, wreathed in a blue aura strode out, her back to us as she held a barrier to block the returning hail of gunfire from the remaining mercs. Allowing us to charge forward into a better position, and fight through this group of mercs. After we mopped them up, I looked over towards Samara. We had a moment, at least.
"Thanks for dropping by. These guys are using flashbangs, can you try to fling those back before they hit the ground and detonate?"
"I shall do what I can." With her confirmation, we pushed forward through a break/lunchroom, around the corner and up another staircase, and towards what seemed to be another antechamber or waiting room for a larger and more prominent office. The moment we opened the door there was a gunshot at the far end followed by another as the body of a Broker's merc slumped to the ground facing us, his head and helmet blown open, the exit wound towards us. Vasir right behind him, and behind her, the body of a Salarian. Sekat, most likely.
"Damn it," she remarked calmly, holstering her pistol. "If I'd been a few seconds faster I could've stopped them." How'd she know to be here, specifically? Vasir looked Samara up and down. "Justicar Samara? I'm familiar with your work." I muttered into our private communications.
"Something's not right. Keep an eye on her." I approached the dead Salarian, no point in checking for a pulse, he barely had a head left, less than even the merc, but the merc had a helmet. I saw that the Merc was holding a rifle as he slumped forward, and why was he alone to take out at least one of the two targets? A rifle wouldn't have left this much of a mess with just one shot, not the rifle he had at any rate, an Avenger. But a Carnifex? Like what Vasir was carrying? That's a different story… Vasir had her back turned to us, looking out a window of the office to the trade floor. I scanned the body, seeing if he had anything on him that could store data. Nothing. "Maybe Liara got the intel in time," I remarked aloud, seeing how Vasir responds.
"Speaking of, you find her body?" Before I could even dissect her answer there were steps and a familiar voice from the other side of the office.
"The body's right here," Liara sneered, holing a Locust SMG as she approached Vasir, the two of them having a stare down. Samara was wreathed in blue again while Garrus and Tali raised their weapons at the Spectre.
"Thought something was off," I remarked, staring her down beside Liara.
"She's the one who tried to kill me," Liara stated coldly.
"You've had a rough day, so I'll let that slide, if you all put your weapons down."
"I saw you. I doubled back and watched as you broke in before any officers even arrived. You told the Broker where I was. You got to Sekat before I did. You still have the data, don't you?"
"Good guess," Vasir held out her hand to show the data disc. I opened my mouth to speak, to give her a choice, but she flashed blue as the window shattered and threw the shards towards us, shouting "You pureblood bitch!" Samara and Liara simultaneously put a barrier up in front of us, shielding us from the glass as the rest of us reflexively acted to cover anything soft. I stopped myself fast enough to get a shot off on Vasir, but it bounced off her barrier. She made for the window, but I ran after her, tackling her before she could jump through herself, but still we tumbled through. She used her biotics to slow the fall as we tumbled and spun through the air, but even for my enhanced strength from any cybernetics, the added biotic force was just too much and about halfway down the fall she kicked me away from her and I fell onto my stomach, Vasir's boots hitting the ground beside me, followed by both Liara and Samara as I got to my feet, Liara chasing after Vasir while Samara helped me onto my feet.
"Get them down here," I ordered Samara, gesturing to Garrus and Tali looking down through the window and I joined Liara in the chase. As Vasir went down to the first floor, a pair of officers as part of the clean-up crew following behind us confused as hell coming up the stairs, Liara and Vasir both barreling past them.
"EDI, get the Commissioner, now!" I shouted into comms. Three steps later I heard her voice in my ears.
"What's the prob-"
"Vasir is in league with the Mercenaries! Do not let her leave! I'm in pursuit with T'Soni!"
"I'm sorry wha-"
"Rogue Spectre! I repeat, Vasir is a Rogue Spectre! Non-lethal takedowns only!" I reached the bottom of the stairs now as I saw Vasir burst through the entrance, Liara still close behind. As I reached the door myself I could see Vasir throwing out balls of biotic energy out of my line of sight as her skycar on autopilot came down with the door open for her, I tried taking shots at it with my Phalanx but considering the car belongs to a Spectre, it's not that surprising she's got it armored, or even shielded by the looks of it. I looked to see the nearest officer getting back to their feet, shaking their head.
"Patrol car! Now!" They had a moment of confusion before their eyes widened with understanding and they stumbled and fiddled with their Omni-tool as one of the closer patrol car's door opened. It'll sit five, if a little close in the back, so long as Garrus takes the passenger. We took off, still with eyes on Vasir.
"Commissioner," I spoke into the comms. "I've got a patrol car and am still in pursuit. I need her tracked."
"I've got a team watching public surveillance now, Commander, and another attempting to predict her destination. We'll keep you updated if you lose sight of her and will do what we can to clear air traffic in your area."
"Acknowledged." I had the pedal to the metal, as Vasir swerved up and through the middle of a traffic stream of skycars to gain some altitude, snaking her car.
"Hang a rig-" Liara began, "Left!" as Vasir committed a turn.
"Liara, I got it," I reassured. "This is not the time for backseat driving. Garrus, key her into our comm channel," as I followed her in a turn between two skyscrapers then between the walkways connecting two others and another two immediate lefts, one through a part of a skyscraper still under construction. But minimal blockage in our way. What did make me nervous was the next right where we were driving through one of the sky roads, so to speak, that go through a building in the oncoming traffic. At least we were below where the traffic is, but we were out of there quickly. So Vasir after a few more corners tried to go into the middle of oncoming traffic, the skycars ahead all swerving out of their way, making me grit my teeth as Garrus, Tali, and Liara all were cursing under their breath if not out loud. Vasir it seemed didn't want to stay here long as we weren't going to lose that game of chicken, and so she turned and gained altitude again, now in the lanes reserved for smaller cargo ships and where they'd start picking up cargo. As Vasir turned again towards another building sky road. The oncoming lane again, of course. Some of the skycars swerved and tried to come to a stop, but the sky truck behind them honked its horn, trying to stop, but just swerving sideways,
"Truck!" Liara shouted. It was blocking off all but an eighth of the road ahead and still moving.
"I can see that, Liara," I gritted my teeth, the truck came to a stop but not before giving a line of skycars a rough smack in their backsides.
"Commissioner," I called as we got by and were about to exit the sky road again.
"Large multi-collision accident in the sky road we're exiting. Get ambulances there immediately."
"On their way," she responded before I dropped the call again to focus on the chase. Once again, returning to oncoming traffic in the open sky, Vasir serpentine and down the lane, a small cargo ship lumbering in our direction. It tried to turn, make some kind of stop as it saw us coming, scraping into a nearby building. Vasir expected it to do the smart thing and just let it happen, considering it was now causing more damage and possibly causing some crashes behind it as when she pulled up just a little to go over, she suddenly had to go much higher. If not for some of the reduced speed from her ascension, she'd have likely splattered then and there, instead of hitting hard and bouncing off, as she recovered with a smoking skycar and turned right into another open area. With her speed having gotten reduced significantly, we were able to catch up, which resulted in us banging our cars together. There was a large building we were about to pass, its roof was around our altitude, balconies. I could make her stop here. So, I timed a hit to have more velocity and something in her skycar came loose, flames igniting, and crashing down on the lowest of the four sets of balconies. I quickly looked over the building for a name or anything to identify it for the police, and saw the name near the top in large, blue holographic lettering, and got back on the call with the Commissioner.
"Vasir has crashed on a balcony of a building called Azure. I'm setting down nearby. She may have more mercenaries en route."
"We've been following you, Commander. I have patrol cars and Police shuttles closing off airspace and locking down the area. The hotel has been ordered to direct all guests to their rooms."
"Understood, setting down now." There was a landing pad almost right next to where Vasir had crashed that had some open spaces for us to touch down in and disembark. While coming down, I saw Vasir crawl out of her skycar and limp off. A good sign for us. We could go the long way and into the hotel and around or climb and mantle the short wall for the more direct route. Naturally, that's what we went with, Liara and Samara helping the climb with their biotics. I could go around the long way by Vasir's car, as the door into this room is locked, as shown by the red holo light, the glass here can be seen through. Sorry Azure, I thought as I shot a round into the glass, shattering the wall and letting us run through and the door on the far side would open without issue. Though there was a scream from both a woman and a man from the bedroom, the female voice muttering more rapidly under her breath, not enough for a translator to pick up, and the language was far from English, but there were several other… let's call it sounds coming from there. Not all of them could have been coming from just those two people, and it would not make sense for… most of the party to not hear a gunshot over moans and slapping flesh. As we ran by, I could see in the bedroom how the inside wall had a massive vid screen and what was obviously a porno flick, explaining the noises.
"What kind of hotel is this?" I asked.
"Azure is a resort with a more exotic edge," Liara answered as she breathed through our run. "Azure is slang in some areas of Illium, for a part of the Asari body."
"Where?" I asked, suspecting the answer.
"Lower wards, near the bottom."
"I meant on the body."
"So did I."
"You know I should have put that together on my own," I remarked. We had a trail of blood to follow. She was bleeding pretty bad, it's surprising she doesn't have any medi-gel on her. Maybe it got wrecked in the crash. We followed the blood trail through a broken glass pane in another room, though she had shot the glass on the far side too. And I could see more police sky cars or shuttles surrounding the airspace around the hotel, their sirens blaring, some setting down to let out their squads. I could see Vasir about halfway across this outdoor deck, a lounge and bar and probably restaurant for the hotel. But she was dragging a human woman in civilian clothing, struggling against the Spectre, but even in Vasir's weakened state, it was likely some measure of biotics helping her keep a strong hold of her.
"Let her go!" I shouted, Vasir stopping, turning with her arm around the Woman's neck, gun pressed against her temple. She whimpered in fear as I could see police squads setting up along the roof and balconies above, and other skycars repositioning and opening a door so a marksman could steady and aim. "You're surrounded."
"What's your name?" Vasir asked the woman in her arms, asked loudly enough for us all to hear.
"Mari-Mariana." she cried.
"You want to live, Mariana, don't you? Tell these people you want to live."
On one hand, we do have copies of the intel, but we'd need to find someone else to decrypt it without them getting offed by the Broker. Granted, some of that is my fault, if I hadn't let Vasir been a part of this, hadn't told her where, but maybe she'd just follow us. But this isn't the time for that debate. But any number of things could happen in the time it takes to find someone else and get the information decrypted that leaves it outdated, or lets the Broker prepare. One way or another, we need that data disc. I need that gun off Mariana. I spoke through private comms first.
"Liara, convenient table behind her, isn't it? Wait for the chance." I then made sure I was speaking loud and clear. If I can make her nervous…
"Vasir, you know who I am. You saw how my team and I performed on Pinnacle Station. My first assignment was to hunt down Saren. Fucking. Arterius. And I bagged him. I'm sure you read the reports, I saved a lot of people, sure, but think back to those reports. Was there ever a time where it cost me my objective?"
"Balak," she answered, trying to figure out my game.
"Are you sure? Maybe you're not seeing a bigger picture. What if I told you he's only still alive out there because we're using him to expose and identify his entire damned network? And not even he knows it. So, ask yourself this, Vasir. Do you know what I do when I have no other choice to finish my mission?
"You're bluffing," she snarled, pointing her gun at me as she got nervous. Liara saw her opportunity, as she glowed blue and pulled the table back into Vasir with enough force to send her flying into the water fountain nearby, Mariana falling to the ground and scrambling away.
"You're absolutely right," I smirked as I moved closer, weapon at the ready and concussion rounds loaded. Liara beside me. The water was getting more and more purple. Not completely, not like she had bled out yet, but she was still bleeding badly. A fight would not be something she was capable of. Liara reached down and took the data disc from a dazed Vasir. I moved to grab her weapon, but not before it lunged up to the base of her own neck. Finger on the trigger.
"He's been in power for decades. Even if you do find him, he'll outplay you. Out man you, out gun you."
"Hasn't stopped us before," I answered. Officers were moving down and closer. "Is that why you sold out to be his lapdog?"
"Fuck off," She growled. "I didn't betray the Council. The intel he's given me has saved more lives than he's asked me to take in payment. I've kept the Citadel safe!
"And yet the people you've killed fall under the same oath of protection. You told them what building full of civilians to put a bomb in! Spectres don't do that?"
"Idealistic, hypocritical idiot," she took a breath. "Of course we do. Our hands are dirty, while the Council's get to stay clean."
"I've never, ever, in my entire career, put an innocent's life on the line, Vasir. And I never will. You think that's the only way to play this game? Maybe even all the other Spectres? I'll prove you all wrong."
"You don't get to judge me!" she managed a shout. "I know who you're working with! You have any idea what they've done?" I frowned; eyes filled with fire just from needing to think about them again.
"Trust me, Vasir. I've been keeping track of every last abominable act those bastards have done. Some of them affected me and people I knew directly. I haven't done them one, single favor. And you know what I'm going to do to their organization the moment I'm done with the Collectors? Not even a second after the Collectors are done with, I'm turning my guns on the entire organization. Not one cell will escape Justice. Those who surrender will live. A life in prison, sure. But the Illusive Man? No. His head is going right on my fucking wall. So, Vasir. No, this isn't the same. Not even close. So," I looked at the gun she was still holding to her own chin. "It's your choice. Come alive, and probably only get a slap on the wrist from the Council? Or die the villain, in a pool of your own blood?" Vasir was quiet a moment. The fountain was now surrounded by other officers as well.
"He'll do worse." And without a moment for me to argue, her head turned into a gory, purple mist.