The Tracker of Goliath

Chapter 10

Declan entered the final letter of his name into the datapad, setting down the agreement with a sigh of relief. They accepted his requests all because of Goliath. Declan knew the Asari did not think highly of him, but very clearly, these people weren't interested in him.

Now, he hoped that the information he could supply them with would be satisfactory.

"We'll be able to contact your sister within the hour, she'll be guaranteed access out of the simulation," said Krios.

Declan hadn't been easy to stun, but his eyes grew wide. His sister, after all these years is now going to be here in a moment's notice. Uncontrollably, his body started to feel uneasy.

"Does she have to leave right now?" he asked.

Aria made it very clear she had enough of Declan's squeamish demander.

"You just whined to us about getting your sister out – after failing to mention that you are an Ion – and now you want us to wait? Councillor Tevos is a bitch, but she's not yours."

Declan kept his disrespectful comments internal, something that Aria seemed incapable of.

"You misunderstand. You're aware that Goliath knows everything, I don't want my sister taken out of the simulation until I can be assured that she's safe."

Taking a seat next to Kolyat, Aria crossed her arms and sneered.

"I hope your information is helpful then, otherwise your sister may be trapped for eternity even with your agreement."

Declan's eyes narrowed.

Kolyat cleared his throat.

"Now that we agreed, Declan; tell us what happened."

The Turian rubbed his hands together nervously.

Theron had been surprised by the soul in this Turian body; while calm and collected, Declan accentuated his emotions more so than the average Ion, more influenced by his organic peers.

Ions are either very upfront about their origins or utterly ignorant, and decide to take this new persona as their lifelong soul. To do this, these people need to do an awful lot of research on their past, who their volunteer was, their personality and what they accomplished.

Typically, it wouldn't be remarkable. Normal volunteers are usually trying to escape something in the real world, be it debts, danger, or depression. The Citadel would accept pretty much anybody, but it would take some time to arrange, and it featured a more than substantial waiting list.

Declan wasn't associated with the normal system.

"Goliath is what allowed me to leave my world," said Declan. "Logically, we made a deal before the upload transfer. My job for him had been predefined, and I would need some time to adapt to my new body. Our species may be very similar to most organics but it doesn't change the fact that it's been eight thousand years since we weren't strictly software."

"What was your job?" asked Kolyat, listening intently.

Aria didn't seem to care, but knew she already spoke her mind.

"Builder. I made things, structures, bases, anything that Goliath wasn't able to acquire by shipment. Most of his synthetic workers would assist in my tasks, but after a period of years, I was elected as project leader for most of Goliath's constructions."

"You're well informed in your field, how so? You've only lived on the Citadel for ten years," said Krios.

"That does not mean I am ten years old. It may have been if I entered the virtual world at that exact age, but I was twenty five when the supernova occurred. I had the mind of a mature adult when I was uploaded to our virtual world, I worked tirelessly in it and obtained knowledge from it, knowledge I've applied working for Goliath."

Aria wanted to remain silent, but as a woman who lived through multiple centuries, she didn't expect to have as many questions as she did.

"You gained knowledge from your virtual world, does that mean a five year old Ion leaving it is eight times smarter than an Asari Matriarch?"

Declan shook his head, but with positivity; surprised to find that explaining how his people function was oddly rewarding.

"The Asari have the benefit of multiple stages of wisdom, but that's not how it works here. When we live in the virtual world, our brains do not age like an organic. That is mostly okay for adults, but for our children, they have been forever trapped in their state, unable to grow beyond childhood. They are able to still learn new skills, but only at the capacity of a child's understanding."

The Executor became annoyed by the speed of which the topic at hand deviated. Yet he couldn't help but listen, as did his acquaintances interrogating Declan.

Encouraging himself to stay on track, he sent another quick message to Aria and Kolyat, informing them to keep Declan on course. Before so, he turned to Theron.

"Is this what you found in your research?" he asked.

Theron replied with a nod rather than words, appearing to be as fascinated by Declan's people as Garrus was.

"If you've worked under Goliath for ten years, when did this murder that you committed take place?" sparked Krios.

"Last Night."

Aria seemed doubtful. "You're a builder. Why not get someone else?"

"ROCAM, a small Turian cult who attacked us recently. As I'm sure you are aware, they discriminate any race other than their own, especially synthetics. Goliath thought it would be appropriate for me to eliminate his target in one of their gatherings."

Aria chuckled, but with a distinct lack of humor about it, morose; she glanced towards Krios. "How many cults does your station have?"

Kolyat sighed, asking himself the same question for years. "The Citadel is considered the galactic capital. It's inevitable that mentally unstable citizens show up once and a while."

"Once in a while?" echoed Aria, looking over her shoulder at the window, knowing exactly where Garrus stood behind it. "Your boss should just send his goons to wipe out anybody getting funny ideas, it works for me."

Tempting the Executor into sending another message, Garrus stood his ground and didn't respond, thankful his ire expression couldn't be seen for Aria's viewing pleasure.

"Who was the target?" asked Kolyat.

Declan sat straight, taking time to select his words.

"Deus."

"ROCAM's leader?"

"Real name Patar Varnis. 55 years old, former Turian military, dishonorable discharged in 2179, lived alone until he began the cult, and making himself ROCAM's self-proclaimed "God".

"And he renamed himself Deus?" asked Aria.

"Yes."

"Subtle."

Theron felt confused by Patar's choice of a Latin word to use against his adversaries. Then again, he didn't appear to be - from everyone's brief descriptions – a very smart Turian.

"How did you kill him?" inquired the Drell.

Declan hesitated, Vakarian couldn't figure out if it was from word choice or remorse, not being able to tell may already be enough of a warning.

"They welcomed me at one of their gatherings, I remained close to Deus for a long time until the meeting concluded. When everybody disbanded, I followed him home… that's where I killed him."

"With?"

"…with an Omni-Blade, it's a tool I'm familiar with since working for Goliath."

"Where does he live?"

Kolyat readied his own holographic wrist computer. Microphones recorded everything said in the interrogation room, but it's always good to make copies of everything.

"321 Shalta, he's in apartment 205. As far as I'm aware, he's still there."

There'd been no mention of this death on the news, no one reported anything unusual coming from the 300 blocks in Shalta, then again, knowing what sort of apartment complexes existed on Shalta, this didn't surprise Kolyat.

The Executor opened a call to dispatch, ordering one detective and an accompanying squad car to investigate the address.

"What did you do after killing, Deus?" inquired Aria, continuing the interrogation.

"I returned to base and forwarded the news to Goliath," said Declan.

"You couldn't just give him a call?"

"Goliath uses his own encrypted network, communication over public lines about a crime would be unsound."

"How did he take the news?" asked Kolyat.

Declan wasn't fazed by the barrage of questions, switching from the officer and pirate queen; Ions don't fall to pressure very easily.

"He appeared to be satisfied."

"What about when he gets word you're ratting him out?" countered Aria.

"He will not be pleased, which is why I needed the agreement signed. No one is able to face Goliath on their own."

Garrus felt his heart sank at the implication of that statement. Reminders of Shepard's death would plague him for the rest of time.

"Okay," began Aria, her expression grew cold. "Truth is, I don't give a shit that you killed some lunatic who threatened your own. Now tell me what I want to know."

Kolyat didn't enjoy where this was going, but he shared Aria's frustration. Declan's information on ROCAM was ultimately, useless.

"Direct communication with Goliath is made in an underground floor in our main building's headquarters," said Declan.

Everyone's attention peaked.

"It is entered from a hidden staircase, the information of its location is only given to his second in-command and department leaders."

"You said direct communication," echoed Kolyat. "Did you meet him in person?"

Declan shook his head. "I spoke to it over the encrypted network and engaged in conversation. Normally, it does not correspond in this method. Traditionally, it speaks to all of its workers by sending messages to the leaders, who then repeat it to the workers; this is for organics. Synthetics, it communes by signals sent to them, and they obey."

"You mean to tell me that even the department leaders haven't seen, Goliath?" challenged Aria.

"No one has seen, Golia-"

"Shut the fuck up," stated Aria, leaving her chair and stepping out of the room, each step with enough force to crack the floor, leaving Kolyat alone in an awkward silence with Declan.

Surprised by Aria's sudden withdraw, he slowly stood out of his chair and left Declan in the room.

Theron recognized Vakarian's displeasure with Aria's presence, but now he was furious.

The footsteps of Aria and Kolyat could be heard from the hallway, Garrus seemingly prepared for the following onslaught of insulting language. Theron felt disconnected once again, never understanding people's need to vent their outrage instead of focusing on the task at hand.

The doors opened with Aria looking like she would ignore her earlier comment, and indeed flay someone alive with her mind.

"This is bullshit," determined Aria.

"Why are you here?" accused Garrus. "If you're not able to let our suspect give you the information that we need, why are you here?"

"You are going to let me take him to my base."

Stunned, Vakarian had to process what Aria said. Kolyat, standing next to the pirate queen, appeared to be equally as baffled. Theron stuck with procedure on how to deal with this scenario, remain silent and distant, allow the participants to vent their illogical anger.

Garrus chuckled, amused as he was baffled. When the Executor opened his mouth to speak, Aria cut him off.

"You know that Declan is not telling us the full story and he is not going to tell us the full story. The only option left is to let me and my team try to force it out of him."

Theron, surprised himself, by walking between the two of them, needing to comment. "Declan is an Io-"

"So what?" exclaimed Aria, her eyes filled with rage.

"They reserve emotions, interrogation techniques are not going to make him voice thoughts that are otherwise, reserved."

Theron didn't appreciate Aria's reactive expression, as if she caught something beneficial to her, what did he say?

"You noticed too, you can also tell Declan is not telling us everything, and has no urge to."

Aria stood proud as Theron stood silent, his honesty did the opposite of help his verbal conflict with the pirate queen. Everyone involved had the same sneaking suspicion. The Executor agreed with her assumption, what he did not condone was her "solution."

"Garrus," began Aria, knowing that she interrupted his thoughts. "I've watched you hunt down thugs half as questionable as this guy, why are you going to treat him like royalty?"

"We have standards, Aria," he defended.

"Any standards you had were lost a long time ago, Vakarian," she replied without a hint of empathy. "Do you really think people still see a hero when you're on that screen? No. They see a man who is rapacious. You never wanted the job, you wanted the control, the power, the right; all so you could prove yourself to her."

Kolyat took a small step back, meanwhile Aria took a great step forward. Vakarian's face appeared cold, while his emotions burned. The Executor's fist clenched and shook from intensity.

"You are walking very thin ice, Aria."

She stepped closer, her height as equal as the Turian, pride in herself and disappointment in the man who stood in front of her, quivering like a naked Quarian.

"They hate you, Garrus, because you put her above them; now if that's true, let me take care of Declan, so I can kill the fucker who murdered her!"

She yelled in his face, and he didn't move. His fist was formed but still; he couldn't ignore her facts, because that is what they were.

Theron stood concerned, reminding himself how this began. Did he logically calculate that accepting this job was the correct option? Why was this conversation happening? Why did their suspect remain in a prison while his Boss and acquaintance enable a clash of emotional turmoil?

Kolyat walked up to both of them, unsettled by where things have gone.

"Executor, I am able to continue gathering evidence from Dec-"

"Let her take him."

Kolyat's eyes widened, quickly returning to normal as he gained his composure. Garrus felt enraged by Aria's ego, her gratification could be witnessed by anyone on their floor. Combat boots clicked down C-Sec's halls as she left the Executor, Tracker and Officer on their own, making a very important call to bring in backup to escort Declan.

"Kolyat, meet with the investigators at Shalta, see what you can find," said Garrus, hoarse in his words.

"Yes, Executor," the Drell replied instantly, relieved to be out of the conversation.

Garrus appeared to be relieved that it was over; with Aria focused on her call and Kolyat gone, Vakarian only had his head and all the thoughts that come with it.

He saw Theron standing there, bland as the gray wall behind him.

"Anywhere you need me to investigate?" he asked, seemingly aware of Vakarian's judgement.

"Follow me," said the Executor.