-A/N- It seems I slipped up last chapter, and convinced people the protagonist was Nihlus. To rectify this, I've amended parts of the first chapter. Enjoy!

I'd best get moving, Garrus mused to himself as he set off from his apartment building towards the shuttle station. To get there he had to pass through the 'good side' of town – a district lined with rows of gleaming white estates, parks and children who felt safe playing outside. It was a far cry from the cramped streets and hostile crooks of his neighbourhood which, while not the worst on the citadel, was near the bottom of the pile, with the highest crime rate on the ward.

The change of locale gave him time to reflect on why he lived like he did, and not in the luxury he could. He already knew the answer, of course; his father. He wanted to live by the means his actions afforded him, make a name for himself instead of using 'the great Vakarian name' as a means to privilege. And while his choice of occupation was certainly influenced by his father, he was determined to make it his own, and then one day - when he deserved it - he would allow himself what he had earned. Perhaps it was some foolish pretence of pride or rebellion.

By now, he had reached the shuttle station, and with a quick credit transfer on his omni-tool he was on-board and heading to work. As it took off, his eyed flashed to 'The Starlight Lounge & Cabaret Bar'. He could only assume it was a hangout for washed-up generals and suspended cops to drink and wallow in their self-pity.

The ward's buildings flashed by over the next few minutes when, eventually, the shuttle came close to his final destination: the C-Sec Academy.

When the shuttle finally arrived, the turian quickly disembarked, hopping off of the small transport vessel and landing with a small thud. He took in the sight around him; a bustling public square full to the brim with busy people, too engrossed in their own business to care for anyone else. Over them loomed his destination, towering above the rank-and-file like a benevolent deity. Rapidly making his way to the entryway of the colossal academy, his eyes still absorbing the magnificence of the giant structure, Garrus took note of the revolving entryway to the Academy.

Revolving-door prisons, he thought, Joram Talid was right after all.

Passing through to find the reception desk, Garrus found himself staring wide-eyed at the amount of civilians hanging around the Academy, waiting to speak to an officer about some problem or other. His eyes eventually rested on a semi-circular desk with a bored-looking, balding human sat behind it, brown eyes gazing wearily at a datapad. Purposefully striding over to the desk, he attempted to catch the clerk's attention with a fake throat-clearing.

"I'm here to take up a position as a detective," Garrus began, his flanging voice audible over the moderate hubbub of the foyer's crowds.

"You're Caldwell, right?" the human replied, without looking up. "Harry Caldwell?"

"No. I'm Garrus Vakarian." the turian's mandibles twitched in annoyance.

"Oh, the rookie. Over there." The clerk ordered as he pointed to the offices. "Go ask for Gilbert Melarn in Burglary, he'll be your new partner. He'll get you your badge, gun and admission forms."

With a nod, Garrus turned on his heels and briskly paced towards the offices, turning the corner quickly to find an open-air office block, packed with rows of cubicles and officers dutifully going about their paperwork. The one part of the job he was not looking forward to, but probably, he conceded, the majority of it.

From his right flank approached a salarian, badge and gun in tow, exhibiting the usual trademark slender body the species was known for, but with a strange cerulean skin tone that Garrus stared at for longer than he cared to admit. Also in the salarian's possession was a stack of forms tucked under his arm, which were promptly thrust into Garrus' arms. As Garrus signed the papers, the salarian extended his free arm with a pleasant smile, waiting for the him to finish and shake his hand.

"Vakarian. Welcome to the force! Gilbert Melarn: Burglary. Call me Gil. I'll be glad to take you on, but just between you and me," the salarian started in the species' natural precise tones as he leaned towards Garrus, lowering his voice, "burglary's the ass-end of nowhere. Don't expect much 'action', as the humans say."

A chuckle escaped Garrus' throat as he grasped the Salarian's hand and shook it firmly, responding, "Thanks, Gil; I'm happy to be here – and call me Garrus."

"Will do. Now, let's take you to get outfitted."

The C-Sec stocks didn't offer much in the way of choice, but Garrus eventually settled on a modest set of Agent I armour, a blue and grey number which, according to Gil, 'really brought out his cold, soulless eyes'. One of those eyed was then covered by a visor the turian had found and instantly fallen in love with.

Gil was a smartass, Garrus was learning that much, but as he equipped himself with a Kessler III pistol and was informed that it 'matches his mandibles', he realised that working with Gil might be not so bad.

Just as Garrus was picking out a new omni-tool, however, Gil's came to life, alerting him to a new message and wiping the joking smile off his face as he read it.

"Garrus, we've got a case. Meet me in the briefing room in ten minutes." Was all he said as he hurried out of the room.

"But, I don't even know where that – and he's gone."

-A/N- OMG, plot! Yeah, the story finally kicks in here, and the chapters will be a bit longer than this afterwards so that I can actually advance the plot, and leave some feedback if I went wrong anywhere - I can only improve if you tell me what you didn't like.