Chapter 8: Barla Von
The Presidium, 7 days after the destruction of the SSV Normandy
One of the benefits of being an information broker was that he always had a better grasp of current events than even those impacted by them. In this case, he found out about the Normandy's destruction and Commander Shepard's death mere days after it took place, even though the Human Alliance was still weeks away from making any kind of official statement. Barla Von had been an information broker long enough to know that most of the major players in the galaxy had heard about the Normandy before most of the Alliance leadership. Humanity was very adaptable and resourceful, but they had yet to achieve anything close to efficiency when it came to the finer points of galactic intrigue.
For his part, Barla Von was disappointed that the commander had passed. While he hadn't felt any particular attachment to Commander Shepard on a personal level, Barla Von had always had a great deal of respect for Shepard and what he had accomplished, both before and after becoming the first human Spectre. The commander had been a natural leader who always managed to bring out the best in those around him, whether at Eden Prime or Noveria or Feros… Though not a soldier himself, Barla Von understood that people like Shepard were uncommon in any species, even among the valiant, and that the loyalty they commanded could transcend even death.
So he wasn't surprised when the asari walked into his office and seated herself in front of him.
"Ah, Dr. T'Soni. I thought you might come, although I expected the earth-clan Williams to be accompanying you."
"Gunnery Chief Williams is… attending to some personal issues," Liara replied delicately as she took a seat opposite him. Looking up, she fixed him with a hard stare. "Though if you were able to guess that I would seek you out, then you probably already know what I am going to ask."
"I do, in fact. And I have a lead on Commander Shepard, but you won't like what you hear."
"That depends."
"There is something far more sinister at work than you realize, Dr. T'Soni." Barla Von paused. He was treading on very dangerous ground now. He knew that depending on his choice of words, he might very well be signing his own death warrant; the Shadow Broker did not suffer betrayal from anyone. But if what Barla Von had pieced together from various sources was correct, then they had all already been betrayed by the Shadow Broker. For his own sake, though, he would have to be very careful in how he communicated that to Dr. T'Soni. Just enough to put her on the right path. She's smart enough to figure out the rest on her own and strong enough to deal with the consequences. He finally spoke again. "My information alone will not be sufficient to help you, especially once you leave the confines of Citadel Space. You will need to know how to uncover the truth through layers of deceit, how to collect and analyze your own intelligence under duress, and how to use it to your advantage."
"I need to learn how to broker information." It was not a question. She understood his meaning perfectly.
Barla Von nodded.
"Very well." Liara leaned forward. "Teach me everything."
For every one hundred men you send us,
Ten should not even be here.
Eighty are nothing but targets.
Nine of them are real fighters;
We are lucky to have them, they the battle make.
Ah, but the one. One of them is a warrior,
And he will bring the others back.
- Heraclitus, 500 BC