Note:You know what? I'm not even going to begin making excuses from now on. I don't plan on abandoning this story (especially with the mess ME3 turned out to be) but it's going to be written on its own pace.
…like you didn't know that already…
English is not my native language so mistakes will happen. Read, and in the case you enjoyed, and have not forgotten entirely about this story (and if you have, know that I'm not blaming you a single microscopic little bit), review.
Segment II ~ Rough Seas
*ch10.
Illium.
A glorified planet wide city of commerce, trade and opportunity.
And with such an underbelly of corruption to make Omega green with envy and stomp her high-heeled shoes in indignation.
Here even such mundane things as murders had a bit of extra flare to them. This was nothing like bodies being mowed in narrow secluded streets of Omega. And the local law enforcement liked to show that they were an active bunch, and surprisingly enough, most of the time they were. Praises and appreciations should be offered all around the table for having a standard than anyone was well and truly welcome in the detective's cell should they not meet the criteria and follow the rules as nebulous as only a mercantile planet such as Illium could bring forth. Oh, bloodletting happened in the blue planet as well – Shepard being a prime example of doing some decorative mowing in some of more, and let's refer to them as 'overgrown areas' – but rich traveling merchants had developed a whole culture of their own when it comes to lucrative ways of eliminating the opposition.
But today and here it was another matter entirely, and Shepard crossed and uncrossed her legs, armored boots clicking across the not-so-clean floor head moved to the left, then to the right, then once more fell back so she could look up at the ceiling lights, then leaned forward against the desk once more as she surveyed the images presented to her. Yes, Shepard could be a spectacle to observe even when she was in the process of careful contemplation.
It was not a grisly sight for one molded on the streets and hardened on the battlefield. Some of the furniture was tumbled over and the body itself was laid on the carpet between the heavy couch and small table shifted over. No blood covered the walls but it pooled on the floor under the blue body.
"And you say these were taken three days ago?" Shepard asked switching between images if the murder scene.
"Four," the detective corrected nodding. "With all the mercenaries on Illium murder is not uncommon at all. But we are in shortage of psychopaths who carve the name of the most famous human in the galaxy on the bodies of local residents."
And that was an 'alien' resident, not to forget. The guy probably wouldn't have the necessary strength to take down a krogan, and didn't have a blade sharp enough to slide easily past the turian natural armor. The hanar were an easy pick – if one was cleaver enough to get pass the natural obstacle of tentacles and toxins. Volus and quarian could be trickier to get out of those suits and get to juicy bits inside, but once you do they are as every bit as delicious as a marinated oyster. Hmm, that comparison had stirred a bit of a hunger there… Where was she heading with this? Yes! Quarians in particular could be quite helpless when their suits went awry. But the Asari… one untrained and in biotic ability was a cherry on top of an icing of a cake. They were just like humans, only dipped in blue.
"I know you have your plate full but I thought you might want to take a look at this," the detective said from the opposite end and Sofia could vaguely see the asari's face behind the hologram. Not a completely unexpected development but one she wished could have happened at a less poorly chosen time.
Sofia hummed. Head moved to the left, then to the right, then once more fell back as she regarded the ceiling lights. She rubbed her chin.
She had to be young, the victim that is, or relatively for the asari at least, and not proficient with biotics or she would have been able to defend herself from the assailant. Long enough to escape if nothing else. But no, here she lay, ravaged with blood marks and wild slashes, all crisscrossing each other in macabre dance on skin visible under torn clothes. And across it all, like a script upon vivid background from the junction of female's legs till between her breasts was a widespread lettering of 'Shepard' stood out with sharp, jerky moves.
Resting her head in her hand Sofia drummed fingers rhythmically against her cheek. "Boys," she said.
"What?" The detective asked thinking it might have been meant for her but Shepard merely shrugged and leaned back in her chair.
"Certain obsessions tend to stick around even when with most bloodiest of occupations."
"Sounds like you know who we're dealing with," detective's eyes narrowed.
"That would be one way to concentrate the matter, yes." Shepard let out a sigh of mixed frustrations, "I did receive a note of sorts where he stated that he might be starting some killings with my name stapled over the bodies. A show of gratitude I suppose for causing a large enough distraction for him to flee the prison."
Detective gave her a dour look, "Next time do me a favor and check their background before you help them out of the prison."
"Well, it was hardly my fault the prison had a large riot just when I happened to be there. Those were two completely unrelated happenings," the Commander sniffed, and then in swift change of mood shrugged nonchalantly, "Do not concern yourself, detective. Not more than necessary. I will look into this matter. It is the least I can do." It was also a very fun thing to do and mining for resources was such a dull chore. If only she had her Mako back… Ah, but wishful thoughts were not for such a moment.
"I suppose. It is better to resolve this quickly before more people die and this incident gets strapped to your name," Anaya said and pulled out her omni-tool. "Here are all the data we have gathered so far. It'll probably be of better use to you."
"Strapped to my name?" Shepard asked puzzled and then smiled as she remembered. "Oh such things do not bother me in the slightest," she waved her hands. "No, I am more concerned over his appetite for more of a difficult pray emerging and I find myself dealing with his shadow in the most inappropriate of times."
"Your set of priorities is truly inspiring," that was a twitch, laced with a solid dose of sarcasm from the detective.
"I do so try to do it all in line of necessity," Sofia nodded somberly. "Now, I shall go and hunt this infidel down immediately. If lady luck deigns to smile I shall be back doing laps on hell hound's command in maybe a day." She looked up at the silent law enforcer. A sigh. "He shall be in your esteemed custody by tomorrow." Talking to people who had no preexisting experience of her toying with language could prove to be a pain on occasion – on those occasions when she needed them to understand.
"I don't know how you can make a promise like that so soon Shepard. But if you do it, I'll not be the one to complain." Anaya said as couple of officers showed up with a bag to pick up the body.
Shepard allowed herself a small roll of her eyes. No one ever did actually. Except for turian Councilor – but he complained about his tea not being bitter enough after pouring a jar of sweetener in it, so he could hardly count. But enough about dull and mundane days sugarcoated in reality.
She had plans for a murderer to entertain.
*/*/*/*/*
Shepard walked up and down the blue and white steps and streets of Illium in something resembling a daze - and it only resembled such because she was very much aware of the world around her. Her mind worked with sharp turns and punctuations, not unlike those moments of fast-paced conversations she and Mordin had from time to even more often time. There was some real risk of salarian scientist getting suspicious of her abusing his persona for her own fun, she grumbled privately. She'd likely have to tone down her visits to the lab. Later though, that trouble can brew.
For now, she had to find a way to lure that boy into the open, and preferably in the vicinity of her gunpoint. That shouldn't be too hard considering that he had expressed a desire to see her in the pool of blood as well – unless he had changed his mind in the meantime, which would be even more troubling as, if such were the case, luring him out would pose an even bigger tantrum of problems. Had this been any other time in her long career of directing guns at living beings, she would take her time in hunting him down; track his movements, his habits, his go-to personnel, the good, enjoyable, tantalizing stuff. But even Sofia Shepard didn't have the luxury of all the time in the world, no matter what the galactic rumor mill might spill out.
These days she could not waste even the minuscule amount of time or stretch it to obnoxiously long proportions resembling tangled ball of wool, only so she could fit his arrest, trial and execution in her schedule – a modifiable one but still with a definitive end in plan. As she had a timetable to follow now, she'd have to satisfy herself with one thing only from here on. A prospect worthy of every dread.
She contemplated the assistance of one of the information brokers but that thought got pushed through the airlock of her mind quickly enough. They operate in a closed circle. What one knows, the other will get on his private messaging soon enough. And the third would use it as a napkin for his breakfast. She needed to control the flow of information if she wanted to get something advantageous out of it.
Besides, T'soni's sudden lack of shyness and timidity made her a no longer interesting of a bait to spend time around. The child asari she remembered was easy to tease and make her emotions go flip-flop on her whim until the poor creature was burning purple with embarrassment. Now that appeal was gone and Sofia no longer had any interest in former Dr. T'soni, and now the leading Information Broker of Illium's company.
Although, and also very grudgingly, she might have to consider forwarding that message about the Shadow broker. She considered it would be fair, …of sorts. A debt paid back. Mind you, this was all very rancorously pondered on. She was still undecided on that.
A thought zapped through her head like a little comet. Of course, there was another possibility. White-collar crime this was not but unless she was mistaken, and she never was, it will pull on that spark of interest the infiltrator still carried within her. Sofia grinned. She might even get to see a blood stain.
Tinkering with her omni-tool to send the message her head only shot up curiously when she heard a crash, followed by a string of curses capable of burning any species that had ears, ears off.
"Coachman Tali," Sofia hummed with interest approaching closer to observe the spectacle laced with so much profanity the conversation held the similarity to a fine frilly dress of bad, bad words. "What are you up to?"
She watched the scene play out before her in a manner quite contrary to one at the Citadel. That quarian girl on her Pilgrimage was frightened and unsure, backing herself in the wall of procedure and prejudice with each uttered helmet-preprocessed word. Not that volus and C-Sec helped any. Compared to her, Tali had a largely different approach. Sofia watched as the small quarian jabbed and poked ruthlessly at volus' suit - and considering how both of their species were life-bound to it, this was a serious treat in making right there. In fact, there was no comparison possible. The Citadel quarian wrung herself into the corner with a knotted tongue, while Tali'Zorah on the other hand...
"Did you think I wouldn't notice the fluctuations in the energy flux? Or how the core oscillates? Or maybe how it would blow up my hands if I should let it work for prolonged periods of time? That I would not trace it back to you and your faulty wears?"
Tali'Zorah was in fact ready to eviscerate him from his suit. In fact, Shepard eyed something that suspiciously looked like the orange of her omni-tool flaring up. Sofia arched one eyebrow. Everyone present did - it was turning to be quite a spectacle when the little quarian tried to lift the volus off the ground and shake him until he fell out of that suit - or until he spews out the money back. Shepard was of the opinion - no, the current law of reality was governed by stated, the former was more plausible to happen.
"You can take it up with manufacturer if you want, I only distribute the goods." The volus waved it off but still kept backing away until he bumped against the kiosk quite harshly, and even the numerous asari present have backed away. Whether because it would be unseemly to be seen with such ruffians or because the quarian girl was rising the levels of aggression to the point that a commando might be necessary for this to be resolved without incidents - an exaggeration to be sure, but a quarreling quarian was a much more difficult to deal with than a meek, thieving one. A brutal miscalculation on galactic community's part, in Sofia's earnest opinion.
"I want every single credit that went for this piece of trash back or I can guarantee you that you and your reputation will not recover enough for you to do business on Illium again!" Her onmi-tool glowed brightly now, and as omni-blades have become somewhat of a popular hazard as of late, it did bring up a certain note of concern.
"You can't ask that," he shook his head. "The contract was agreed on and signed by your 'friend', and the certificate guarantees at least 10 years of continuous work," the volus sniffed, taking in deep breaths of his native atmosphere. "Besides, the percent of something like that actually happening is minimal."
"Well, guess what?" Tali purred - because everything she said sounded like a purr to a degree. Sofia thought it to be creepy, unsettling and utterly fantastic. "That small percent came to knock your kiosk down."
Sofia watched with pride and pure non-involvement, how Tali made the merchant back up, cough up and pay up. The joys of intimidating the little people into their place… She well and truly enjoyed such moments, but it was always prudent not to get caught up in them because then… then the little people rise up, blindside you and become larger than life. She spoke from experience naturally. So she continued to observe the technician patiently, until Tali turned around and saw Shepard stand there with a spark in her eye and a secured grin on her face.
"What a mess?" Tali said with added several choice words directed at the volus merchant, "Did you see the whole thing?"
The Normandy's Commander just nodded her head and wiped a non-existent tear from the corner of her eye. "Oh nothing but witnessing the greatest moment of our little Tali'Zorah growing up and showing thieving vagabonds into their proper place with a sense of justice and non-compromise. And to think only few short months ago have you blindly ran into dark corridors chasing faulty rumors."
"That was two years ago Shepard. Closer to three, in fact," Tali tried to correct her commander exasperated but was cut short.
Sofia clicked her tongue. "Time is relative in the eye of the beholder! Matter and point being crucial here, the happenings here made me feel very proud."
"Really? Asking for a refund doesn't seem like much to be proud of," Tali muttered.
"Ah, but showing pre-cognitive knowledge and intuition when your friend and partner purchases faulty appliance, and then rushing into the jaws of mercantile empire to correct grievous error on both sides is," Shepard listed the quarian's accomplishments of the day and laughed. "Garrus really ought to start checking and testing before moving on to shopping. Or at least, he should show some pre-emptive awareness and take you with him the next time."
Tali looked up, and what emotions sizzled and dazzled behind that obscuring helmet was a mystery at best, then shook her head. "How'd you know?" Shepard merely shrugged at her inquisitive gaze. She had a way, and a habit, of rubbing against matters not directly related to her, like a cat suddenly appearing sitting behind one's feet and make them trip when they least expect it.
"Now," Sofia started, "will you share with your captain what had happened and of what magnitude to make you desire to claw that poor and only somewhat corrupted merchant's eyes out?"
"It's nothing. Probably nothing," Tali started, then corrected herself. "It's just that I haven't heard from the Flotilla in a while."
"Would that be unusual?" Shepard cut in, prompting her further.
"Not really. Sometimes we can go without contact for a long periods of time. I know they wouldn't let me know anything about the data we've recovered," here her voice cut into a little bout of bitterness at the lives lost on Haestrom. "But I have at least expected to hear how Kal'Reegar is doing," She shook her head with a small sigh. "Like I said, it's probably nothing."
"And so long as it remains nothing, no nightmares will disturb your sleep. Except for the self-induced ones caused by unfounded worry. For everything else, there is always the venerable shotgun solution – be it verbal, or a more literal interpretation," Shepard's eyes twinkled merrily with red shine. Absolutely not unsettling in any way – so long as you have spent good couple of years serving under her.
"Thanks, Shepard. You've been really supportive lately. Not just me, but the entire crew."
"Haven't I been always?" Shepard answered thoughtfully. "And more importantly, isn't that the duty of any self-respecting ship's captain?"
"On quarian ship, sure. But you've been going out of your way to help out be offer a shoulder to lean on. Not that I'm complaining, or saying that you shouldn't be doing that, but with everything at stake and so little time… keelah… I don't even know what I'm saying."
Sofia shrugged with a smile.
"You can safely blame Cerberus. That three-headed poodle gave me an incomplete ship and no resources, which are all very much necessary to bring it up to the level where I don't have to forcibly dive in the starry sea again and have a good view of the other side. I so happen to have the time to burn in a productive manner."
"Well whatever it is, Shepard, you should know that the crew appreciates everything you've done for them so far."
"And, oh, how that opinion is in danger of changing once we pass the Omega's gates."
"They'll stand behind you. All of us will."
Shepard chuckled. "Key word being present - 'behind'. Oh, do not make that face behind that mask. I am fully capable of appreciating the notion of my crew and team being able and content." Shepard then glanced at the docking are. "Now go, before Garrus fries something else during his calibrations."
"You're not going to let that go, are you?"
"There is doubt in my mind that the whole of Palavan wouldn't let it go if the joke ever got out," she laughed, then paused and then frowned in thought. And then grinned some more.
"Shepard."
A wider grin.
"He won't appreciate that. At all."
"Oh fine! I'll keep my mouth shut about turians and their fixation on calculations and calibrations."
"Thank you."
"But it could have been such a good story for posterior."
Tali just gave her 'the look', behind the mask, and with a shake of her head left the Commander. Sofia watched Tali leave, quarian's eyes focused on her omni-tool and still somehow managing not to walk into anything or anyone on her way to Normandy. Or get pick-pocketed. Or stabbed. Or something else that involves having your attention elsewhere while unhelpful bystanders induce unfortunate accidents.
Shepard just grinned at the workings of the universe and leaned against the balcony, with her back turned to the glorious vista.
The crew was behind her all the way, Tali had said. Sofia couldn't keep the burst of bubble-like laughter inside, and smiled contentedly. That was their purpose, and with a little touch of her own, they'll soon be mesmerized enough to walk into the line of fire on her behest.
That was why the Illusive Man had placed them aboard Normandy. Why every other crew-member had a child recently born, a family in outer colony under a threat to be whisked away under moment's notice. It was why someone as clueless as Gardener was on the ship. Moral. Sympathy. A human face for the three-headed dog to hide behind. Too bad her opinion of humans lay below that of single-celled organisms.
If the Illusive Man had really studied her profile as he often bragged about then he should be aware of it. And if in his own zeal of forwarding humanity's advancement he had assumed that every member of human race carried their own special place in their heart for their own kind – then it was a brand of stupidity she could make of use of.
The Illusive Man wanted her to get attached to her crew? To have their inevitable deaths drive her forward even harder? She would do him one better. There will be no deaths. Not while she was commanding the Normandy.
Ludicrous? Impossible? Insane? Unfair? Shepard thrived on the impossible. It was the food she nourished her soul with. Suicide mission? No. It will be children's garden party with high velocity weapons of mass destruction. With her at the head of it.
Her omni-tool lit up with a small blipping noise, signaling an incoming message.
"Club Eternity, 19.00 hours. I really hope you know what you're doing. G.P."
Sofia pushed away from the balcony wall and stretched her back.
This was going to be fun.
*/*/*/*/*