After several embarrassing minutes of wandering around the C-Sec lobby, an asari matron - a detective, Garrus was informed by the badge on her belt - took pity on the confused turian. She kindly escorted him towards the briefing room upon request. As they set off, Garrus couldn't help but notice how blue she looked, the charmingly deep colour sharply contrasted by the myriad of elaborate white markings all over her face.
While the two continued onwards, he couldn't help his eyes from venturing… 'downwards' and admiring the asari's athletic physique, her curvaceous yet toned core supported by her ample hips swaying in time with her purposeful strides. They reached a large set of double doors, black and grey metal glittering with the artificial light of the foyer.
"And here it is."
It was a few moments before Garrus realised that they had stopped, and it was even longer before his gaze broke away from 'the view'. His eyes finally rested on the Asari's, and found a menacing scowl in place of the gentle smile that had been there earlier.
"What were you just looking at? Were you just staring at my…" she growled through clenched teeth, the irate edge in her voice audible as she stepped closer to him.
"Me? I… uh, well–" was all Garrus could get out before the asari's hand, glowing blue, flew across his face. A biotic slap. Stinging pain flashed over him.
"Typical male pig. I'd expect this from a human, but not a turian." She spat with disgust, before turning and heading back the way they came. Garrus stood in the briefing room doorway, rubbing his mandible and gawping at what had just happened.
Yeah, I really need to stop doing that, he decided, unaware of the cerulean Salarian creeping up behind him, eliciting a startled reaction when Gil broke the silence.
"So you've met Detective D'Tora then. Good for you! Or not actually," Gil corrected, employing a mock thoughtfulness in his tone. "she only gives people one chance at a first impression, Garrus, you're probably going to be stuck with the 'ice queen' persona forever. It seems you 'done goofed', in the words of Detective McCauley, and remember: she can break your arms with her mind!" Gil chuckled wryly, "but I digress; you have a briefing to sleep through!" said the Salarian as he gestured Garrus through the large doors behind them.
The white plastic chair made an unyielding creak underneath Garrus' armour as the turian settled in for his first briefing. The room was large, structured like a cathedral of sorts with rows of the same chair as beneath Garrus throughout the room, and a channel in the middle for people to enter and exit at will. There was also a high ceiling and tall walls covered in a sterile white paint. It gave the room a certain disconnected, professional feel, probably designed to look unremarkable and allow officers to disassociate themselves.
Must come in handy for the homicide briefings, Garrus mentally remarked, as Gil took up a position on the elevated section at the front of the room. Messing around with his omni-tool and a terminal built into the lectern, the salarian gestured to the projector screen mounted on the wall behind him.
Just as Garrus realised he was the only person in the briefing room other than Gil, the doors slid open and in walked a turian in a sophisticated red, blue and brown shirt. He was quickly recognised by Garrus as Executor Pallin – his new boss. At the sight of the head of C-Sec, Gil jumped up from his slouch, standing perfectly straight with his eyes dead forward.
"Executor."
"As you were, Melarn. I'm not here about the coffee machine; I'm here to explain to Vakarian how C-Sec works, and to see if he pays attention in briefings."
Gil exhaled in relief, turning back to the terminal and hurriedly setting up the briefing, as Pallin idly strolled through the channel. He pretended to look for a place to sit in the vacant room, but settled for the seat next to Garrus, muttering 'this will do' as Garrus groaned inwardly.
"Executor."
"Vakarian. Vakarian." The Executor repeated, as if mulling the name over in his mind, trying to discern whether Garrus was related to royalty or vagrants just by its sound. "A well-respected name; I've heard great things about it. Your father, Flavus, was one of the best C-Sec had, as I recall, so let's see if you can pay attention." Garrus grimaced at the mention of his father, as Pallin continued. "C-Sec's investigative department has six divisions: Burglary, Robbery, Contraband, Homicide and Vice. Burglary investigates petty theft and home invasions, while Robbery deals with Grand Larceny and theft rackets." Pallin let it sink in, and continued. "Contraband monitors the black market, Homicide investigates murder and Vice, should you be reassigned to it, will have you investigating drugs, prostitution and occasionally overlapping with contraband. You can be promoted, but spirits help me," the Executor lowered his voice into a chilling whisper, leaning closer to Garrus, "if you step out of line, not only will you be relegated to some shitty detail, I will have your mandibles ripped off and fed to you. Do things by. The. Book. Vakarian. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Executor." What a hardass! Garrus' mind indignantly chimed.
"That also means to do your paperwork, because if not you will be – ah, the briefing! Pay attention, Vakarian."
And with that, Garrus' focus returned to the projector screen as the lights dimmed and Gil cleared his throat, preparing to deliver his much delayed briefing.
"Now, in burglary, we have been dealing with a string of burglaries in the districts close to the Presidium. They all share a Modus Operandi: a charming Turian and a friend turn up at the victim's door as 'health officials', showing no ID and enter. They inspect the property, checking every room, noting things in a datapad and recommend a fumigation take place. The victims usually go through the company recommended by the 'officials', who erect a tent over the property. After forcing the occupants to leave, the tent is gone within two days and all valuables are missing, presumed stolen."
Gil prodded at his omni-tool for a few seconds, and a slide of a barefaced Turian looking smug appeared.
"This is our suspect: Rolan Quarn, well-known con man, thief and fraudster. We know it's him; he sent us an E-Mail bragging. The problem is," Gil sighed, "He's a vet at this; he has so many aliases, fake addresses and proxy companies that we can't nail him down before he sets up another company and flies back under the radar." At that last comment, Gil rubbed the back of his head nervously, much to Pallin's audible disapproval.
"Get on with it Melarn!" heckled the The Executor, in a manner unbecoming of a senior officer.
"So, today Vakarian, we're going to a crime scene with the same MO, and hopefully we'll find something." Gil finished abruptly, ending the slide show with a holo of a big two story house near where he had boarded the shuttle to work.
As the lights came back up, The Executor rose from his seat, giving Garrus a solemn nod before leaving the room. And with that, Garrus noticed; Gil visibly relaxed his whole body.
"You okay, Gil?" the Turian inquired.
"I- I'll be fine. Let's go Garrus." Gestured Gil, as the two left the room and headed towards the parked skycars outside the academy, with Garrus making bounding steps towards the exit, eager to begin his first investigation at C-Sec.
-A/N-There we are! The first chapter I'm really happy with. Next up, the first case's beginning, and maybe its end, if I get enough time. If you didn't like this chapter, why not? Tell me.