Chapter 6: Cluedo
The turian diplomat's apartment was a mess. Whether it was from the struggle with 'Billy" or C-Sec officers, Garrus couldn't tell. If it's the latter, he noted, C-Sec sure has gotten sloppier while I was gone. Chairs and tables had been turned, documents spread all over the apartment and the bed was still stained with turian blood. No cleaning service would enter this place till the investigation was over. The stench from the dead body hang heavily in the air, in spite of it being taken away several hours beforehand.
Jack had been reluctant to come. She had no desire to help the dumbass with anything, after he flat out told her he was going to surrender. King of the boy scouts, she mused, dumbass. When are you going to learn that playing nice doesn't pay off? She pulled up a chair that was turned upside down and just decided to sit this investigation out.
Samara was looking into some of the papers she had found scattered around the room, until she came across something interesting. Garrus, she grabbed his attention. Our deceased isn't just a diplomat. He used to be a high ranking member of the turian judiciary system, she added and passed on the papers she was holding to Garrus.
Great, he huffed, that adds even more people with a probable cause to want him dead.
If we could cross-reference the list of people he convicted, how many of them do you think would have ended up in Purgatory? Samara pointed out.
To do that, we'd need the Purgatory database files ... Garrus started, only to be interrupted by Jack,
Not gonna happen. I blew that place up good, she prompted, in spite of pretending to only be half listening. Can't take all the credit. I had help, she added. She remembered all the times she and the boy scout had wrecked private and public property. She was mad at him, but she still missed him.
... and his judiciary record from Palaven. I don't have the strings to pull that one, he shook his head.
It would have been a good lead, under better circumstances, Samara conceded.
The turian marksman took another scan of the area. There's nothing else here. If C-Sec went through his files, they already know our victim used to be a judge. Perhaps they can pull his record. In which case, Tali's bug should give us the information we need. Let's get out of here, before C-Sec finds us out.
They walked out of the building like it was nobody's business. Something, however, had been eating Jack up for a while now. Samara had gone in her head. She saw. Of course she saw, she was a Justicar. She prodded and looked and saw and she would dispense justice on her as well. She needed to know what she saw. She grabbed her by the shoulder and twisted her around. Samara would usually react very differently, but she wasn't expecting someone from the group to approach her like that and she had no intention to hurt Jack.
You're gonna tell me what you saw in my head and you're gonna tell me now, battletits, Jack threatened her.
Samara looked at Jack with a confused look on her face. Like Shepard said, I only went through your memories of Purgatory. If this is about the men that harmed you, I would be compelled to act as you have, she reassured her, he voice calm and serene as always.
Jack, come on! Samara isn't going to hurt you, Garrus tried to cool her off.
It's none of your business, bird. How do I know she isn't lying? How do I know she doesn't plan on killing me in my sleep, because I offended her code or some shit? Jack's body started emitting a blue light, little flickers of lightning dancing around her. There was an intense light that shone between the two and the human biotic's body was sent flying for a few feet, landing roughly on her back. Jack groaned in pain. She felt a heeled boot being put down on her neck, making her breathing difficult.
I know who you are, Jack, Samara said, her voice nearly emotionless, her eyes again dilating and constricting as she called the human's name. I have no intention of being your enemy. More so now that you're with Shepard. She paused for a moment, fixing her gloves while still pinning Jack. Garrus in the meantime, stared dumbfounded over a breakout he didn't know how to contain. However, if you wish this to change, it can be arranged, she concluded, lifting her heel from Zero's neck and walking away.
Jack coughed, the sudden air intake hurting her lungs. Her turian comrade rushed to help her up. She shoved his hand away. Fuck off, bird, she turned him down and lifted herself up. I'm going to get drunk again. She walked away, leaving Garrus Vakarian alone and quite unsure of himself.
A few light years away from Omega, the Normandy was slowly making its way through space. It wasn't often that the comm room was used to the extent it had been used that morning, well morning as far as space goes. It was even more unusual to hold a second briefing on the same day. Again, day as far as space goes. Miranda Lawson, Jacob Taylor, Urdnot Grunt, Zaeed Massani and Kelly Chambers had all gathered to discuss their tactics once on Omega.
We need to approach Aria directly. She already knows we're here and why. Going behind her back is only going to make Aria come after us harder, Miranda explained. However, we want to neither appear weak, nor too intimidating.
So we just show up on her door, acting casually, asking for data on anyone that arrived on Omega via shuttle the past month? Jacob shrugged.
No, Miranda retorted. Aria spends most of her time in her club, Afterlife. We'll meet her there, like we've always done. Only this time, there is no Shepard.
Shepard knew how to handle the purple bitch. She'd always spill her guts when he came around, Zaeed explained.
But I know Aria just as well. She likes to talk to the man in charge, no middle men, but we can't do that while Shepard is grounded. We need a delegate, she concluded.
So you're going to go head to head with Aria? Grunt asked with a smile on his face. I can't wait to see the fireworks, he laughed.
As much as I'd like to comply to your fantasy, Grunt, I can't. I'd be perceived as too threatening. We need someone more calm and diplomatic, Miranda corrected him.
Kelly felt a current pass through her. You want me to chat up Aria?
Yes, Kelly. That would be best. You won't be going in alone, though. Zaeed and Grunt will be with you the whole time and Jacob will be in close proximity. I'll be monitoring the situation from the Normandy, so if anything goes wrong, we all have your back. All you need to do is get her talking, just get a little friendly. You can do that, right Kelly? Miranda asked in so innocent a way, it almost came off as naive. For Shepard, she pleaded.
Kelly beamed. Sure! I can do that, she nodded eagerly.
Alright, I guess this wraps it up nicely then. We've got a few hours till we hit Omega, but after that it's crunch time. So ... dismissed, Miranda concluded. The biggest part of the group left the room noisily, as prompted, but Jacob stayed behind. He walked next to her.
There's something you're not telling them, Jacob accused her.
What makes you think that? Miranda diverted his question, a forced smile on her lips.
Miranda, we used to date. I know you well enough. You're hiding something. I just don't like being left out, he tried to soft talk her.
You're right, she huffed after a small silence. For some reason, looking into his eyes, she couldn't lie to him. Aria's been very compliant before, but she really had no reason to do so, other than she didn't want to anger Shepard. Now that he's in jail, there's no reason for her to work with us. We need to coax her.
So what do you really have in mind? the security agent inquired.
The Patriarch has been getting restless and ambitious since Shepard helped him last time. Aria thinks he's up to something. He's not. He's just remembering what it's like to be krogan. He's itching for a fight. Grunt will do just that. Meanwhile, the Blue Suns are asking for Zaeed's blood, after what happened to Vido and barking at Aria to set up a meeting. So we'll deliver him on a platter. Kelly is just an offering to Aria herself, Miranda explained.
So we're just sending our crew to a massacre. That's not a great plan, Miranda, Jacob accused her, agitated.
It wouldn't be, if I hadn't taken my precautions. I've asked a friend for help and I'll be ready for deployment as soon as the traps spring up for anything you need. I have it all figured out, she reassured him. You'll have to trust me on this one, Jacob.
Jacob shook his head at first, then pursed his lips together. It wasn't like he had a better plan. He looked at her in the eyes. Alright, he conceded. So who's the friend? Do I know him? he asked, not in the least bit content.
I think what you're asking is 'do I know him as well as I know you', correct? she teased him.
And if I am? Jacob wondered.
I'll let you decide when you meet him, she concluded and left the briefing room.
Jacob took a long breath and heaved a deep sigh. I need a cold shower right about now, he mumbled to himself.
You haven't sweat nearly enough for that, Massani could be heard passing outside the door.
Oh, come on, now. Seriously? Taylor exclaimed agitated.