Mass Effect Belongs to Bioware….I just buy the retail.
Getting out of the Citadel wasn't going to be that hard, Shepard was allowing Brian to handle it while she had gone to tell the rest of the Normandy crew. She cringed as she thought back to that. Most of the crew didn't have a problem; they were anxious to do something other than sit at the Citadel. They ended up waiting for Wolf to get back before they headed out for Rorthang. Joker and Jack were particularly happy to leave to go to the casino. Both of them wanted to gamble. Shepard had no intention of letting them, but she might be too preoccupied to stop them.
"Commander, Wolf is at the airlock." EDI said.
"Thank you EDI, could you get everyone in here?" She was currently in the briefing room looking at the hologram of the Casino station.
"Certainly Commander," The AI replied. Fifteen minutes later, her ground team as well as Brian were in the Briefing room.
"Joker, do you have the go to leave?" She asked, knowing EDI was connecting her to his console.
"Not yet Commander," Joker replied.
"Think those bastards will let us leave?" Jack questioned.
"They will," Brian answered as he glanced at Thane. "What about Sarah and the Piedmont do they know anything?"
The drell shook his head. "From what she was able to gather, no one knows of our decisions. We will not be sure afterwards, but as you have requested, she will send message if it changes."
Kasumi tilted her head to the side. "That girl's got spunk to defy the Alliance."
"Her sister had the same style," Shepard replied. "Let's talk about Rorthang and what we will do while there."
Miranda stepped forward. "Rorthang is a moving Casino Space Station. Because of the affiliations with the underground, only certain groups are given rendezvous points for the station."
"It's out in Terminus Space," Brian answered. "That way the Council can't have any say in trying to close it down."
"We are going there to kill some gang members that have been fucking around in your business?" Jack said more than questioned as she leaned forward on the table. Brian nodded and looked over at his sister.
"Because Brian is too recognizable, I will be going in as the White Lotus representative for this tournament." Shepard answered. "If I win, we will be getting a Prothean artifact."
"A Prothean artifact?" Tali asked. "Do we know what it does?"
"Not really," Brian answered. "But I figure if anything, the wondrous Commander here can handle the information being downloaded into her head again."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." Shepard threw a glare at him.
Garrus shifted in his spot next to Shepard. "Are we killing everyone?"
"No," Shepard said knowing that Garrus was thinking of the run they did for Zaeed. "The only people that will be killed or crippled will be the Crimson Spiders. If anyone else tries to kills us, well that's up in the air." The turian shook his head at her in gesture of amusement
"Hell again Shepard?"
"We've been to hell Garrus, we didn't get to gamble there." Shepard replied before turning to the rest of the crew. "Since I will be the representative for White Lotus this means I will need a 'bodyguard' or two. It also means Brian is stuck on the ship." She grinned. "So who wants to play babysitter and who wants to go gambling?"
"Fuck, you are letting me go to this station Shepard!" Jack jumped at the chance. "A chance to gamble in a real fuckin' casino is not something I'm letting you keep me from."
Samara looked at Brian before looking back at Shepard. "I would like to stay on the ship to talk with your brother if that's alright."
"It would be my pleasure Madonna Justicar." Brian said with a tilt of his head. The justicar bowed her head back at him.
"Garrus and I are leaving with you," Tali answered.
"Hey commander! Don't forget me!" Joker said as he was still waiting for the green light to leave.
Shepard chuckled. "Would never think about it Joker." She answered. "Although it might be hard to protect your crippled ass."
Joker huffed. "I'll stay out of the way I promise."
"I would like to stay here siha, if that is alright with you?" Thane answered. Shepard smiled gently at him and nodded.
"I'm going," Miranda said forcefully. The Commander raised an eyebrow at her. Jacob shifted next to Miranda.
"I'll be staying on the ship." He answered.
Mordin nodded. "Stay on ship as well. Projects needing research."
"What about your resident thief?" Brian questioned.
"I'll be around the casino, but I'll slip in, might be good to have a pair of ears and eyes that's not attached when word gets around." Kasumi answered. "Plus, I've got my own invite to this station."
"Commander, we have a green light." Joker said, interrupting them.
Brian and Shepard looked at each other before nodding. "You have our heading Joker, let's go before they change their minds."
"Aye, Aye ma'am." He answered and began to pull the ship out of dock.
Shepard turned back to her crew. "We have a few days before we hit the station at the designated White Lotus pick-up zone. Brian and I will continue my training in the cargo hold. Anyone is invited to come watch, join in or what have you. I suggest taking the next few days to relax or prepare." She looked at each one of her teammates.
"It's a casino," Brian added. "I suggest some of you brush up on your human card games." Some of the aliens that agreed to go with Shepard nodded in acknowledgement.
"Dismissed," The Commander said. When the crew emptied out of the briefing room, Shepard sighed.
"Well," The White Lotus leader drawled. "This should be fun."
The female Commander raised an eyebrow and turned to her brother. "Just how pissed off did you get the Spiders?"
Brian looked at his sister with a maniacal grin and said one word. "Very."
"Great."
Brian raised an eyebrow as he walked down the left side stairs just in front of the engineering doors. It was their third day out in space, and they were heading to Illium before continuing. They were in need of some disguises and supplies. So as his sister trained, Brian busied himself with getting to know the crew and finding any additional bugs the Illusive Man had on the ship. When he got to the bottom, he whistled at the set up. Jack jerked into the light, glaring at him from where she was in the shadows.
"What the fuck do you want?" Jack questioned.
"Nothing just touring the ship while Shepard is practicing," Brian replied with a shrug. He leaned against the table as he looked around. "Cozy place you got here."
"Fuck you," She said.
"You hurt me, donna," He put his hands to his chest in false hurt as he spoke in his Italian accent. "I am not your enemy."
Jack rolled her eyes. "Everyone is an enemy they all want something." She snorted, not thinking about what she said.
"Is Shepard your enemy?" Brian asked the convict seriously. Her eyes snapped to him as his stance straightening menacingly. She took a step back as he advanced on her. Jack truly didn't know what to think about when it came to Brian. One minute he was a good, easy going guy, the next he was an intimidating gang leader, ready to snap her neck. He was unlike anyone she's ever met. "Do I have to worry about you stabbing her in the back?"
"Why would I want to backstab Shepard?" Jack managed to muster up her sarcastic tone against his intimidation.
"You tell me," Brian said with a slight sneer. "I know all about you Subject Zero. I know about your adventures with pirates and exploding space stations. I also know that Cerberus was the one that put you in that hell hole of a prison and Shepard was the one to take you out."
The convict jerked. "What the fuck does that matter to you?"
The White Lotus leader stopped and regarded Jack coldly. "Because I need to know if I have to deal with Shepard after taking out the people on her ground team," He explained. "She gets quiet angry when I do things without consulting her first."
"You'd kill me just because I might backstab Shepard?" Jack asked with curiousity.
"Kill for her? No," Brian said as a maliciously grin appeared on his face. "I can do worse." He stalked toward Jack, his presences turning violent. The convict's eyes widened a bit as she backed up into the wall. "You think what Cerberus did to you was bad, donna?" He leaned forward until he was bare centimeters away from her face. "I've studied Cerberus, I know what they did and you don't want me to do worse. Threaten the Commander in anyway and I will."
"I'm sure you would! All men are alike." Jack spat with a growl. Brian smirked.
"Are we now?" He pressed forward, trapping Jack against the wall as he plundered her mouth. Jack struggled against him clawing at his arms and back, trying to get away. Brian shifted his hips and pressed them into the convict, showing her what her reaction did to him. Jack was slowly beginning to respond to the White Lotus leader, when he pulled away. He stepped back from her and raised an eyebrow. Jack stared at him blankly, before her hand struck out slapping Brian across the face leaving a few scratches. He raised a hand to the corner of his mouth where one of the scratches ended. "Well perhaps we are all alike because we can't resist a woman like you."
"Bastard, get the hell out." She glared at him.
Brian shrugged. "Fine, see you later belladonna." He threw her a small smile before leaving. Deciding to check up on his sister, he headed back into the cargo back to see his sister practicing her biotics with the resident drell. He silently made his way in, listening as the drell spoke with his sister.
"You have more control, siha." Thane stated.
Shepard smiled as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "More, but not enough." She looked at the drell. "If I don't get my biotics under control I can accidentally kill someone Thane, I don't want to do that."
"You will find what you seek," He said. "You have for me."
"How are the treatments coming Thane?" Shepard said as she looked at her companion. After returning from the council chambers after seeing Alma and Wolf, she had talked with Chakwas and Mordin about finding a cure for Thane's ailment. Both doctors agreed with her, that using the data they have from Cerberus as well as the data Shepard gained from the White Lotus after sending a message to Alma would be beneficial to Krios. They were able to use both to create a temporary solution until a more permanent one was reached.
The assassin nodded to Shepard. "My illness has not progress and I can tolerate the moisture more than I have in the past."
"Nice to know that the information from Cerberus helped with something," She answered as she let her biotics flare a bit before dimming. "I told Alma if she finds out anything more to forward the information straight to the Professor and Doctor Chakwas."
Thane watched as she played with her biotics. He closed his eyes briefly to let his own feel hers. He felt it, what was once a rip-tide turning into a tsunami was now ebbing to the control she was finding in her brother's training. Opening his eyes, he looked at her. "You have gone to great lengths for me siha," He said. "I will never be able to repay this debt."
"Don't, worry about it." She said, her concentration on her biotics waning a bit. "You are a friend Thane." Thane immediately felt the change in her concentration. He smiled as she fought for it again. "It's what friends are for Thane." She smiled at him.
The drell caught her eye and grabbed her hand gingerly. His expression gave nothing away as he spoke to her. "As a friend, I beseech you siha," Thane moved his hands to her elbows. "Working until exhaustion isn't good for you. It can cause you to lose control quicker." The human woman in his arms frowned. "Rest for the night."
"No," Shepard said stubbornly. "I have to get this right,"
"He's right sorella," Brian said coming out of the shadows. "You've done this before, remember what happened then? You could harm yourself if you lose control and are too tired to stop your biotics."
The Commander of the Normandy glared at her brother as she patted Thane's arm, signaling him to let go. The drell did as he was asked and stepped back a bit. "Have a nice chat with Jack?" She asked motioning to the scratches on his cheek and chin.
"Do you want me to re-enact it for you?" Brian asked, his thumb dragging along the corner of his mouth fondly. "I'm not sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did."
The female Shepard shook her head at her male counter part. Turning to the assassin beside her, she let her face soften at him. "I'll be in my cabin if you need me."
Thane nodded. "We'll wake you when we get to Illium siha," He said softly. She tilted her head and left the cargo bay without much of a fuss. The drell watched as Brian tilted his head at him. "Is there something you need Wolf?" He asked.
"Just thinking to myself that's all, Krios, just thinking." Brian answered as he walked past the drell further into the cargo bay to get some of his own training done.
"Shepard!" Liara was surprised to see the woman in her office. There was no word from the port that she had arrived. She especially didn't expect to see her friend with a man with the White Lotus emblem on the sleeve of his jacket. That could explain why she didn't receive word though. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more prepared for your arrival."
"So this is Doctor Liara T'Soni," Brian's eyes pierced through the asari as he looked her up and down. The information broker shivered as dark energy flickered around her. That man's eyes, they were not friendly. She stood beside her desk, her fingers twitching minutely. "Pleasure to meet the woman who sold Shepard out to Cerberus."
"It was either them or the Reapers," Liara said in a much calmer voice than she was feeling. This man was exuding danger. The feeling was crawling over her skin, leaving a cold feeling behind.
"That's no excuse!" Brian bellowed.
Behind him, Shepard put a hand on Tali's arm as the young alien flinched from the sound. She stepped closer to the quarian knowing that the worse was yet to come.
"Who are you to tell me what I did was wrong?" Liara questioned, her tone sounding surprising like her mother's.
"You are the information broker, shouldn't you know?" He hissed stepping closer to Liara. The asari moved, putting the desk between him and her. "Since you don't know I'll tell you." Brian stalked her around her table, forcing the asari to stay away from him. "I am the leader of the White Lotus."
"Wolf?" Liara managed to contain her squeak of fear. Wolf was a man who was never seen. He stayed underground as to not jeopardize his organization. To see the man's face was certain death. He was like the old Earth Greek Gods; one glimpse of his face would be death. She immediately knew that she was now on borrowed time. No one ever escaped Wolf. If they did, it was only because he found them useful for something.
"Yes, information broker. I am Wolf of the White Lotus," Liara had ended up by her desk chair while Brian was on the other side of the desk. He slammed his fists down on the table making the lamp fall off and shatter. "But more importantly, I am Brian Shepard! Your former Commander's twin brother!"
"Bri," Shepard called softly. The man jerked back and turned his violent eyes on his sister, who stared back at him calmly. His anger didn't affect her like it did everyone else. "Scaring Liara won't get us the information we need."
"But it was funny," Tali murmured to the human woman. "Scary, but funny."
Shepard turned to Liara. "I need you to keep this quiet Liara."
"O-of course!" She smiled a bit at how Liara sounded almost like she did when she first came on board the Normandy. "But I assume this is not the only thing you came here for."
"No," Shepard said as Brian growled under his breath, but moved to lean against the wall. "Rorthang, we wanted to know if you heard anything about it."
"The Casino Station?" Liara gingerly sat down in her chair looking up at Shepard. "It is rare to hear about anything with that station. I was invited to go this year as one of the agents of the Shadow Broker."
"This is great," Brian said. "The last thing we need is the Shadow Broker getting in the way, or his goons." His eyes narrowed at the blue woman.
Liara swallowed as her eyes looked toward Wolf before going back to Shepard. "You're attending?"
"Shepard will be attending as the representative for the White Lotus," Tali answered. "Garrus and I will be part of her bodyguards."
"Then why?"
"We thought you would know who else would be attending," Shepard said. "But obviously Rorthang's guest list is more guarded than we thought." Liara nodded, not saying anything to the trio. "We'll see you on later Liara." The Commander said as she turned and headed out of the office.
Tali stayed behind as Brian stood straight. She tilted her head as the man glared at Liara.
"If you utter a word about what was said here, consider yourself dead." Brian said in his normal, relaxed voice. "Have a nice day information broker." He added before leaving. The quarian snorted as she followed the human man. He was scary, but funny. She couldn't wait to tell Garrus about the look on Liara's face when they got back to the ship.
Their next stop was at the building Brian had indicated. Shepard explained to Tali that the building know as Twilight Corona was a secret White Lotus headquarters and business front. This is the building where Brian said that they would be getting their supplies from. Once they stepped into the building, Tali's eyes widened at the beautiful decor inside.
"Keelah se'lai," The quarian murmured spinning around to look at the architecture of the entrance. There was nothing like this in any of the old planets or buildings she's been in. The arches were as tall as the ceiling white, with golden accents. There was a grand staircase in front of her leading to the second floor. Looking straight up, Tali could see the floors circling around, so as to give the first floor a straight view through the skylights. "It's beautiful."
"Thank you," Brian said. "Some schematics from old Earth renaissance as well as 20th century buildings were used as a base for this building." He explained as he led the quarian to the elevator that Shepard had called for them. Once inside, Brian pressed the button sending the elevator moving upwards.
"I don't understand," Tali said looking at her Commander. "If you had a family member who was this wealthy, why did you not use it back then?"
Shepard didn't look at the quarian as she hugged herself. "It is not as simple as that, Tali."
"Why not?"
"Because the Alliance would have been able to find me," Brian answered. "We couldn't let them pinpoint which companies I have or where the White Lotus was located." He looked at his sister, before looking at the quarian. "The Alliance plays a dangerous game, we couldn't let them have both of us. Not again."
"By keeping you away, she was protecting you." Tali said as the clues began to piece together.
"The Alliance High Brass isn't as nice as you've been led to believe." Shepard murmured. "I wasn't going to give them a reason to hurt me more."
Brian put his arm around his sister. "Of course not mia sorella," He said. "They can't stop us now."
The elevator reached its destination and slid open with a hiss. Two security guards raised their guns at the trio.
"Nice security," Shepard said with a small grin.
"Volpe!"
"Madonna!"
The two excited shouts cause Brian to smile as he stepped out of the way to allow the guards to hug their long lost co-leader. He motioned Tali forward to allow his sister time. "I have heard things about the Migrant Fleet," He said as he opened the door to reveal an apartment to the quarian. "That your ships are not fairing too well and that they are falling faster than your people can repair them."
Tali did not know how the man knew this, but nodded. "I'm afraid so." She answered. "I did not tell Shepard yet, not with…"
"Don't worry, she doesn't know." Brian said as he walked to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass and a bottle of whiskey. Pouring himself a glass, he looked at the quarian. "She has enough problems with what will happen in the days to come. But I would like to make you a deal," He put the bottle down and grabbed his glass of liquor.
"A deal?" Tali tilted her head curiously.
"I'll have one of the White Lotus tech companies send you new parts, even give you one or two of the ships we are not using." He took a sip of his whiskey. "In exchange, I want the fleet to provide Shepard with information should she require it."
"That's it?" She blinked. He wasn't asking for a lot, but he sure was providing more than what the equality is.
"I need to know my sister has allies out there Tali'Zorah vas Normandy." Brian said seriously. "I need to know she has TRUSTED people she can go to."
The quarian knew it would take a bit to convince her people to allow such help from the outside, but he was Shepard's brother. She nodded looking at the human man. "I will send word to the Admiralty Board as soon as I can."
Before Brian could reply, Shepard walked into the apartment with a small smile. "It was good to see those two again."
"Glad you're happy," Brian said as he sent a meaningful look at Tali. "Why don't you get some of your outfits packed while I show Tali our weaponry and upgrades?" He said while walking off. Tali quickly followed him, interested to see what kind of things he had stowed away.
Shepard nodded and disappeared further into the apartment. She smiled as she felt nostalgia hit her. Walking to a room, she opened the elegant white door. Inside a room that was left untouched even after years of disuse. She moved to the closet, ignoring the rest of the room. Opening the door, Shepard peered in to see the clothing that was in there was just her size. Fabric mixed with leather and silk. This caused Shepard to grin as she looked at the different pieces of clothing.
"Thank you Alma," She said before she started to pick out a few outfits. If she was going to play the part of being a badass White Lotus female, she had to dress the part. And all this was perfect for what she had in mind.