A/N: Translations in (-).


She knew the C-Sec captain.

Thane shouldn't have been surprised – he knew that someone like Clarell would have contacts everywhere – but the way everyone seemed so weary of the Auriels universally… He was just surprised to see her greet Captain Bailey as an old friend. The human had even returned the greeting in kind. It would seem that Auriels were received either one of two ways: with the utmost reverence or the utmost distrust, usually the latter.

At any rate, he thanked Arashu that it brought him that much closer to stopping his son.

"Pleasantries aside, Captain Bailey, we're looking for my associate's son. We believe a local criminal may have hired him," Clarell informed, assuming what Thane had come to realize was her 'business stance.' The one she used to get information and speak with her 'business' associates.

"That should be easy. We don't see many Drell around here," Bailey stated before searching his systems. "There we go. One of my men recorded a Drell recently. And he was talking to Mouse. Interesting."

"Mouse?" Thane asked. He recognized the alias and wondered if it was the same person he was thinking of or just a coincidence.

"A petty criminal. Probably not the guy who hired your boy, but a messenger. He's a former duct rat, runs errands for anyone who'll pay," Bailey answered.

"Out of curiosity, Captain, what convinced you to help us?" Clarell asked, seeming almost suspicious.

"I've worked Zakera for two years. Every day, kids turn to crime because they've got no other choice; because their parents don't care," he turned his attention to Thane. "You're trying to save yours."

Thane replied, "He faces a dark path."

He felt that his own phrasing was an understatement.

"I suppose we should be on our way, then," Clarell supplied upon the urgent expression Thane shot her way. "Vera lis'milara, Captain." (Live in prosperity.)

"Mouse is usually upstairs, outside the Dark Star. He works out of a public comm terminal. Take it easy, di'Raevus," Bailey announced as they departed.

Clarell didn't even acknowledge that the captain had spoken. She maintained her strong pace until they were out of Captain Bailey's earshot, whereupon Thane stopped her.

"You didn't tell him Kolyat plans to assassinate someone," he noted, confused.

Why not forewarn the authorities; prepare them?

"He'd interfere," she explained. "He's an officer. He would see it as his duty to stop Kolyat, and he wouldn't do it quite as subtly as we should plan to. One of them could wind up seriously hurt or worse. Besides," she smirked, "we're going to stop him before anything happens, aren't we?"

"Of course, and…thank you, Clarell," he replied, humbled by her dedication to helping him.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Clarell set off toward the Dark Star; Thane following closely.


As they got closer to the Dark Star, Thane watched as Clarell changed before his very eyes.

He thought he had seen her change as they were talking to Captain Bailey, but that was nothing; that was simple information gathering from a willing supplier.

Her shoulders drew father back, her elbows crooked only enough to prepare for an attack. Her head was bowed slightly, but it made her seem no less imposing. Her spine was positively straight.

She looked hardened, intimidating.

Thane was impressed.

His attention was diverted, however, when he saw a familiar face. Though the face and the person had grown up since the last he had seen them.

He just managed to stave off memories of children and chocolate.

"Yeah, sure. I can get you two cases by the end of the day," the young man assured someone over his datapad.

Thane and Clarell approached, the latter questioning, "'Mouse' is it?"

"What do you-" he turned around, "Oh shit! Krios? I thought you retired. And an Auriel?" He took in her visible weapons. "Shit, I swear I didn't do nothing!"

"Be still, Mouse. You can change your pants in a moment," Thane assured, placing a calming hand on Mouse's shoulder.

One side of Clarell's mouth quirked upward in amusement.

"So, how do you know Thane?" she asked, crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one hip.

"Krios? He didn't-? Uh, if he didn't say nothing, I ain't either," Mouse declared, crossing his arms defiantly.

"When we heard the name, I didn't think it could be the same Mouse. He was a contact on the Citadel when I was active. He and some other children would gather information on my targets," Thane answered, gesturing vaguely at Mouse.

"Information, hm? Well, then, I suppose you could provide us with some information now. We have a few questions," Clarell casually while taking a, mildly threatening, step forward.

Thane was somewhat surprised that she hadn't questioned his use of the children.

"The people I work for- Look, I can't answer questions for just anybody," Mouse countered hesitantly.

"But you can for me," Thane all-but-demanded as he stepped up to Mouse and put a forceful hand to his collar. "You gave another drell instructions for an assassination. Who's the target?"

"I'd like to help you, Krios. You always done right by us, but…I ain't gonna die for you," Mouse responded despondently.

By that point, it seemed Clarell had had enough. Her face was a stoic mask as she shoved Mouse against the wall, following closely and pressing a forearm to his throat to keep him in place.

"Mouse, we don't have time for you to give us the run-around. Look, Thane wouldn't ask if didn't need to know," Thane could see her add just the slightest amount of pressure to his throat when it looked like he would deny them again. "If you won't do it for him, do it for the preservation of your windpipe."

"I want to, okay? He was always nice to us," he turned his pleading eyes to Thane. "But these people ain't nice, Krios."

"Mouse, I swear you won't be named," Thane assured, stepping closer to the two.

Thane could see in Mouse's eyes that he was deliberating.

Clarell put more pressure on her arm. "I'm losing patience," the unspoken threat hanging in the air.

"I… You wouldn't hurt me," Mouse's voice quivered with his uncertainty.

Clarell applied enough pressure to where Thane could hear Mouse wheeze. "Would you like to place a bet on that?"

"Krios, man, I did good work for you," Mouse plead. "You gave me chocolate. Real chocolate."

Thane was immediately filled with regret, but not for the interrogation. He had made so many mistakes as a father. "I never gave my own son chocolate."

"I remember, whenever you talked about your kid, your eyes got like that. Like they was someplace else. Sad. He had that holo you took of me, you know. That's how he proved who he was. But when he turned it on, his eyes got like yours do." He visibly deflated, seeming to have convinced himself with his own words, as he finally relented, "The guy I carried for is Elias Kelham."

Clarell backed away as soon as Mouse gave up the information, but Thane could see the curiosity in her eyes. She wasn't done gathering information, yet.

"Who is Elias Kelham?" she asked, her tone no longer blatantly threatening.

"Human. Moved to the Citadel about ten years ago. He was little people when you were here, Krios. He got big after the Geth attack. Lots of the big guys from before got cacked. All in them big fancy apartments up on the Presidium. Now he runs the rackets on the lower end of the ward. Shin Akiba. He's seriously bad news," Mouse answered, pacing back and forth.

Clarell quirked a slight smile and stated, "You should find employment elsewhere. This isn't the life you want, Mouse. You can do better."

Mouse lowered his head, "I just hope I live long enough to get out of here."

"Kelham will never know," Thane assured.

"I hope not. I'm out of here, Krios. Next time you're in town- Just don't bring the family." With that said, Mouse stepped between them and walked away.

Thane watched after him, becoming more and more aware of the things he desperately wished he'd done differently in his past.

Clarell observed the poorly hidden regret on his face. "I know from experience that wasn't easy."

She was giving him an opening; a chance to talk about things that he only recently realized bothered him greatly. He took it.

"Mouse knew more about my life than Kolyat ever did. He smiles up at me, broken teeth and scabby knees. Bare feet black. A dead-end future looking up at me. Worshipping the petty gifts I offer. I was the only good thing he had, back then. But I left him, as I left Kolyat," Thane explained, ashamed and despondent.

"What about the holo? He said you had a holo of him."

"Yes. A foolish bit of sentimentality. I can perfectly recall every moment I spent with Mouse. He pulls at my arm. Smiles. He wants to know that I'll remember him. That anyone will remember him. I take the holo. He smiles at himself in miniature on my palm. Then a frown crinkles his brow. He pats my pockets, checking for other holos. "Where's your son, Krios?" he asks."

Thane lowers his head in shame. How he wished he could go back and change it all.

"Thane," Clarell stepped closer to him. "You've made many mistakes in your time. We all have. You are far from perfect. I understand the pain you feel; the guilt. There is nothing you can do to change the past, now. What's done is done. However, you can change the future; make it better. Already, I can see a change in you from when we first met. Things will get better. You just have to work at it." As she finished she placed a comforting hand on his arm.

He took her in, examining the honesty in her eyes. She wasn't trying to take the blame from him – which would have been pointless, as he was to blame – but she was trying to balm the sting of shame and disappointment. Her words were true. There was nothing he could do to change the past, but he could fight for a better future; for himself and his son. In that moment, he held more respect for Clarell than he had for anyone else.

He was seeing her in a new light.

Thane gave away none of his thoughts, keeping his expression passive, as he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Alright," she announced with a sigh. "Let's head back to Bailey – see if he can get this 'Elias Kelham' for us."


"Captain, we need to know where to find Elias Kelham," Clarell started before she'd even reached Bailey.

"Kelham?" Bailey asked, surprised; and, judging by the muttered 'shit' afterwards, it wasn't a good surprise.

"Ah, look. This is awkward," Bailey continued. "Kelham and I have a – an arrangement. He doesn't cause too much trouble and 'buys tickets to the C-Sec Charity Ball' from me. In return, I ignore him."

"So he bribes, hm? You seemed eager to help us before, Captain. What about now?" Clarell tried to hide the disappointed anger in her tone. She'd been on the other side countless times – the one doing the paying-off – and she didn't want to be hypocritical, but…she'd thought Captain Bailey was above that. She was disappointed to find out that she was wrong.

"I said I'd help. It's just- There'll be repercussions if I don't handle it right. He and I... give each other space. It keeps the peace," he countered. Running his hand over his blond, buzzed hair. "I'll get some of my people to bring him in and set him up in a private room. You can interrogate him yourself. I'll stay out of sight. If I'm lucky, Kelham will believe that I had nothing to do with it."

"Alright, set it up. I doubt we have much time left," Clarell ordered.

She would keep her word and get Thane's son out of this. Alive.


Thane watched with Clarell as they brought Elias Kelham though in cuffs.

That man, head down with a sneer plastered to his face, was the one that got Kolyat into this.

No, he reminded himself, it's my fault that Kolyat is here. This man was just a catalyst. I can't change it…but I can fix it.

When Clarell looked his way, he inclined his head to show he was ready.

"He'll expect me to get him out of this," Bailey grumbled.

"Not today, I think," Thane presumed.

At that moment, one of Bailey's officers commed to warn them about Kelham's lawyer.

"I'll stall him," Bailey promised. "You get in there and work fast."

With that, Bailey walked off to hold to his word.

"We should question him together. Keep the pressure on. Thoughts on how to approach it?" Thane inquired, turning his full attention to Clarell.

"You be his best friend. I'll be his worst nightmare. Problem solved," she replied, sarcastic smile pasted perfectly on her pretty face.

"Very well. I'll pretend to be on his side. But if we waste too much time negotiating, Bailey won't be able to stall Kelham's advocate," he started forward but stopped when a thought crossed his mind. "And, Clarell," she looked him in the eye, "don't beat him too harshly. We need him willing to talk…and alive."

"Me?!" she gasped in mock indignation, hand flying to her chest. "Why ever would you presume me to be capable of such a heinous act?"

He was amused by her. She'd never acted quite like this before. It was refreshing. It also made him think that, maybe, she was enjoying this.

When he quirked his mouth in a half smile, she strutted past him and into the interrogation room.

"Who the hell are you?" Kelham asked upon their entry. All four of his limbs were strapped to the interrogation chair.

"We're asking the questions, ri'vayn," Clarell retorted, strutting toward Kelham. "You ordered a hit on someone," she placed a hand above his head and lowered herself to his level. "You're going to tell me who." (Derogative term.)

"The only person I'm talking to is my advocate," he replied menacingly.

Clarell's face hardened.

"This is how it works: I ask a question. You answer the question," she started, her voice deceptively cheerful…until it lowered with her next words. "You speak when you're spoken to."

Thane would deny the small thrill he felt at watching her work.

Her tone was sensual, seductive. Even the way she moved around the interrogation room, swaying her hips and looking over her shoulder, was arrousing. Oddly, that made her more intimidating.

"Who the hell do you think you are, bitch?" Kelham demanded in indignation.

Clarell's calm, sensual demeanor broke as she suddenly back-handed Kelham across the face.

The split lip and the muttered curse were enough to tell Thane that she hit hard.

"Do not push me, ri'vayn, for I will push back, and, when I do, I won't hold back," she warned, flicking his nose in a way that would lower his morale and remind him of his position.

"Nice. You just handed me your job. Hit me again, and I'll take your money, too. I'm gonna straighten you out. As soon as Bailey gets here," Kelham threatened, still believing himself on top.

Thane thought that was as good a time as any to interject, "Just tell us what we need to know. My associate isn't very patient."

"What are you, frog boy? Her little sidekick? Bailey's gonna have to do some goddamn big favors to make up for this."

Clarell sidled up to Kelham's side, an alluring smirk on her lips, "Captain Bailey even know we're here…but he will once we're through with you."

"What, sweetheart – you gonna bore me into confession? You ain't shit. Come on, hit me. I dare you. "

"My pleasure," Clarell replied jovially, just before reared back and punched him in the face.

Thane didn't believe she meant to put that much force into the punch.

"Agh! Do you know what I'll do to you when I get out of here?" he threatened.

"Keep up with the wise cracks and you'll be leaving here in a body bag," she hissed.

"Go to hell."

At that moment, Thane gently grabbed Clarell by the elbow and pulled her to the side, feeling he should interfere before things got out of hand.

"Ease up. He's no use to us dead," he whispered.

She placed a hand over his, which was still on her elbow, and implored, "Trust me, Thane."

He stared at for a moment, unsure, before nodding and turning back to Kelham.

"Are we done here? Because I've got people to see," Kelham grumbled.

Without a word, Clarell stalked back to him and punched him straight in the mouth.

"Alright, alright! Just fucking quit it! Ain't worth this," Kelham conceded, eyes squinting in pain. "Joram Talid. Turian running for office in the Zakera ward. He messes with legitimate businessmen. I'm gonna stop it."

"Where and when?" Thane asked urgently.

"His apartment. The 800 blocks. You better hurry-"

"What's going on here?!" a man, Thane assumed was Kelham's legal advocate, demanded as he walked through the door. "Get away from my client!"

"You-You played me!" Kelham exclaimed, thoroughly insulted.

"Of course," Clarell replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the galaxy. "I appreciate your cooperation."

"Nicely done," Thane complimented, genuinely impressed.

"Wait. You got what you wanted. Who ratted me out?" Kelham demanded.

"Do you really believe I'm going to tell you that?" Clarell scoffed.

"I'll find out," he vowed. "When I have a name-"

"Elias, as your legal advocate, I advise you to shut the hell up," the lawyer interrupted.

Thane felt Clarell grab his elbow and start pulling him out the door.

"We're done here. We need to get going. Fast."


She had planned to stalk them from the maintenance catwalks and, once she spotted Kolyat, take him out by dropping silently behind him and knocking him out cold.

That had been her plan.

When Kolyat jerked out his gun, she remembered why she stopped planning so thoroughly one hundred years ago.

"Kolyat, wait!" she shouted, hoping to stall him.

It didn't work quite as well as she'd hoped it would but about as well as she expected it to.

Kolyat took aim at Talid and fired, but the Krogan bodyguard jumped in the way. Kolyat incapacitated the Krogan, but Talid managed to get a head start.

"Thane-"

"I saw."

"Talid's apartment."

She flipped over the barrier and met Thane on the ground as they ran after Kolyat.

When they got there, they saw Kolyat had Talid on his knees and was standing behind him, a gun to the back of the Turian's head.

It was execution style.

She approached them, her pistol drawn and aimed at Kolyat, though it made her sick doing so. She didn't want to do this Thane; to either of them.

"Kolyat," Thane's tone was all-but-begging.

"This-This is a joke. Now? Now you show up?" Kolyat questioned in disbelief.

Talid to his chance to speak up, "Help me. Either of you. I'll do whatever you want."

The sound of the door opening interrupted them as Bailey entered the room.

"C-Sec," Bailey announced. "Put the gun down, son."

"Get out of my way," Kolyat demanded. "I'm walking out. He's coming with me."

Thane took a couple of steps forward and warned, "They'll have snipers outside."

"I don't need your help," Kolyat informed indignantly.

Seeing no other solution, Clarell tossed her gun behind her, put her hands up in the air, and did what she does best: manipulate the situation.

When she was sufficiently vulnerable, she began to take slow, calculated – unthreatening – steps toward him.

"Kolyat, I can see that you don't want this," she started in a soothing voice, hoping to distract him a little from her gradual approach. "You weren't meant for this life."

"How would you know, Auriel?! I'm his son," he gestured quickly to Thane. "Maybe I'm supposed to be a cold-blooded killer. Maybe I'll get married and abandon my family, too!"

She shook her head, a grim look on her face, and assured, "Trust me on this one, Kolyat. This is not something you want staining your soul."

She hoped her eyes displayed the desperate honesty she felt with those words.

When she was about five feet from him, to his side, he finally seemed to notice what she was doing. "Stop!" he ordered. "Don't come any closer!"

To drive home his point, he took a step closer to Talid, bringing his gun closer to the Turian's head.

What Kolyat didn't understand, however, was that he had just done exactly what she wanted him to do. Now, she didn't have to stretch so far.

Without warning, she dropped to the ground fast as lightening, and swept her foot out and around, knocking Kolyat's feet out from under him. As soon as he hit the ground, his armed hand up in the air, she roundhouse-kicked at the weapon, sending it flying around Talid's head and toward Thane.

Had the situation been less dire, she might have been impressed with how deftly Thane caught the gun.

"I think it's best you leave now, Talid," she suggested as she walked back in Thane's direction.

"Yeah, yeah. I will," Talid said as he got up and limped toward the door.

"Take the boy into custody," Bailey ordered the Turian C-Sec officer beside him.

Clarell ignored the distrustful look the Turian sent her way as he passed.

"You son of a bitch!" Kolyat roared at Thane.

Clarell motioned for everyone to stop and gently informed, "Kolyat, your father is dying. His time is running short, and he's trying to make up for his mistakes."

"What? So you came to get my forgiveness? So you can die in peace or something?" Kolyat asked in disbelief.

Thane solemnly approached him, his shoulders slightly hunched. "I came to grant you peace," he stopped as if searching for the right way to continue. Then, he raised his head to look his son in the eye as he stated, "You're angry because I wasn't there when your mother died."

"You weren't there when she was alive," Kolyat growled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why should you be there when she died?"

The words seemed to physically pain Thane. Clarell had never seen him look so beaten.

With his head down Thane revealed, "Your mother – they killed her to get to me. It was my fault."

"What?" Kolyat's arms dropped to his sides and he stood up straighter.

He was taller than Thane, Clarell noted absentmindedly.

"After her body was given to the deep, I went to find them. The triggermen. The ringleaders. I hurt them; eventually killed them. When I went back to see you, you were—older," Thane informed. "I should have stayed with you."

"I guess it's too bad for me you waited so long, huh?" Kolyat whispered.

"Kolyat, I've taken many bad things out of the world. You're the only good thing I ever added to it."

At his father's heartfelt words, tears sprouted from Kolyat's eyes.

Clarell felt for him; for both of them.

Bailey walked up to them, "This isn't a conversation you should have in front of strangers. Boys, take Kolyat and his father back to the precinct. Give them a room and as much time as they need."

"Thank you, Bailey. You're doing them both a grand favor. One day, I will repay you," Clarell stated meaningfully, bowing her head in gratitude.

"Yeah, well, send me a Christmas card or something," he replied.

At the mention of Christmas, Clarell's face became bewildered.

Bailey took in her expression and said with a laugh, "Forget it. Just by me a bottle of expensive whiskey and we'll call it even. I have to get back to the precinct. Come on. I'll give you a lift."

With a smile and a nod, Clarell followed him out the door.


"I ran some searches in the C-Sec archive. About ten years back, a bunch of real bad people were killed. Like someone was cleaning house. The prime suspect was a drell. We never caught him," Bailey enlightened as Clarell paced the room.

She was patient, but she always found it difficult to stay idle.

"Ten years is a long time. Whoever was responsible for that is probably dead by now, or close to it," she suggested, sending a meaningful look his way.

Bailey conceded, "Yeah. I guess you're right about that."

Clarell stopped her pacing as she heard a door his open. Turning, she watched as Thane entered the room, his face blank.

"How did it go?" she asked him quietly, hesitantly.

"Our problems – they aren't something I can fix with a few words. We'll keep talking, see what happens," Thane reported lowly.

"At least you're talking. That's something," she said with a reassuring smile.

"Your boy shot some people. No one I feel sympathy for, but there it is," Bailey announced.

"Those people were shaking down businesses and threatening humans. I watched it myself," Clarell defended.

"But he can't get away with it," Bailey interjected.

"Bailey you know how I am about justice. You know how I am, and I'm saying, that if the boy wants to make a difference, give him community service," she insisted vehemently.

At that, she could feel Thane's gazing at her intently. She chose to ignore it, keeping her eyes steadily on Bailey.

Bailey was obviously shocked by her suggestion. "Community service? For attempted murder? What jury would agree to that?"

"This would need to stay out of the judiciary. Strictly within C-Sec."

Bailey was quiet for a moment, staring her in the eye before rising from his seat to look Thane in the eye. "Interesting. I'll think about it."

"Thank you, Captain," Thane awarded, his tone full of gratitude.


As they returned to transport, Clarell gave into the demands that had been secretly gnawing at her subconscious for the entire mission. "I have a few things to take care of before we leave, and Shepard shouldn't be back until much later. I'll meet you back here in a few hours if you have anything else to do."

Thane turned to her, looked her directly in the eye, and began, "You have helped me beyond measure today by returning my son to me. I will never be able to repay for all you have done. However, if you would allow it, I would help you in whatever you may need." He took one sure step closer. "I would follow you anywhere, siha."


A/N: And, there you go: Thane's loyalty mission. I know, I stuck to the game and its dialogue like glue. I just don't like straying too far from the canon universe (I've already created an entirely new race – what more do you want from me?). I did try to make Clarell her own unique bits, though, by altering some scenes and giving Clarell her own dialogue.

Up next, Clarell resumes her search for Gherith Kerseral and the mysterious "Milara"…with Thane's help. And did he just call her "siha?" What hell does that mean…?!

Title is subject to change should I think of anything better.

As always, review if you want. I'd like to know what people think, and I'd appreciate it greatly.

-Hope