Been a while but Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 8

Garrus was warned that he would be traipsing in a world that wouldn't suit him. Kaida told him time and time again that it would be better that he be kept in the dark about certain negotiations until the last moment, especially, when she needed to talk to turians—and they did have a habit of looking at him to see if she was being truthful or not. He felt a little offended for Kaida, however, she was probably the most trustworthy person he knew next to John.

More than the turians were the private sectors, Kaida surprised him with the number of hanar and volus that were gracing her office. They held companies whose worth ranged from a couple of millions to billions of credits.

"Politicans fall in line when they smell good money too." Kaida explained. "And since turians are mostly pants at business, we may as well get the ones who trust me to fund us."

"Fund us? What for? World domination?" He stared at her, bleary eyed. "Aren't we just inviting Udina to counter us again, even if he's been quiet because he realized your guns were bigger than his?"

She frowned. "Well, my goals aren't quite as lofty but I like to think they will be worth the credits. The investors seem to agree—just stand there and be pretty, hm? Leave this part to me."

He sighed. He always felt that for just about everything non-combat related, he'd been thrown under the transit shuttle, and treated like a varren that attacks or yields on command. He was more than that, thank you very much, he was a Spectre. At the very least, he could choose for himself when to attack or yield, with no repercussions from the Council (save destruction of property—that, salarians took too seriously).

Still, Kaida finally felt sorry for him and sent him and Oriana to deal with Coat of Arms, the band she was performing with in three days—as they prepped the Citadel Coliseum for the "intimate" gathering of fans that was somehow changed into a full blown performance. It had a seating capacity of about 50,000—that was already full despite only a two week heads up. So the security detail was a nightmare, and with the C-Sec grunts lined up in front him—he was probably also biting into more than he can chew.

"Twenty people compared to fifty thousand is a klixen next to a Thresher Maw, Oriana. Couldn't you have told one of us sooner?"

The crazy-eyed glare she fixed on him had one of the C-Sec officers flinching back. She was frantically ticking off things in a datapad she was holding. If she wasn't so dignified, she'd be chewing on her fingernails and smearing her lipstick. "We had a private company working with us for our last gig but Coat of Arm's reps got all fussy. They're bringing in their own people so we're, I quote, 'Not supposed to sweat the details, darlin'."

"Spirits, they sound professional." He took one last look at his line of C-Sec officers. Green. Green and squishy looking. "C-Sec could have spared a meaner looking bunch for a Councilor."

"They might have if Kaida approved. But she said C-Sec was too—solemn. Only agreed to a small force because Tevos insisted." Oriana sighed, hand resting on her hip. "These twenty are to focus on some of the minor pathways. Another security firm—people Kaida actually approved of—will be the ones you'll really need to coordinate with. That was non-negotiable when Coat of Arms made their bid for this spot."

"Bid?"

Oriana raised a well-groomed eyebrow at him. "You think Coat of Arms was the only band we were considering? Expel 10, Vaenia—among the best anyway. But Coat of Arms was giving the best bid—and I don't only mean in terms of money."

She motioned for him to follow and he did. They climbed into one of the elevators and stopped at one of the mezzanines, walking into the Coliseum; he had never watched a concert before—only some pre-recordings on TV holos. They were in one of the mid-level sections, from that vantage point, he could see the entire expanse of the Coliseum. Anyone could see that filling up this place in two weeks was both a media and logistical nightmare. Moreover, the Coliseum itself, from a sniper's perspective, was an assassin's dream.

"Filling this up in two weeks is mostly Kaida, don't get me wrong. But we don't want to pull too many strings in such short notice—it wouldn't be wise. Coat of Arms is multi-racial, they have a lot of connections in the industry and more than that—they represent exactly what Kaida thinks the galaxy needs right now: a united front. Plus, she says they're good enough. Their bassist is first class and vocals is good too. Drummer is a bit twitchy—but you can't have everything."

"So, we're choosing their political sway over safety?" Oriana nodded and he sighed. He placed a hand on her shoulder and pointed South East, about 58 degrees from where they stood according to his visor. "That is a nest. Directly parallel to that perch is another." He pointed up at the open ceiling. "That is one bomb away from oblivion as well but that would have less panache than a single assassin bullet. A hovering aircraft, something non-threatening could have one hostile with damn good aim and enough guts to try."

He thought he made an excellent argument—at least to put in some kind of barrier or what—but she only shrugged. "That's why you're here, Spectre. To figure out how to make this place safe without bringing in too many turians that the fans feel like it's martial law." She patted him lightly, smiling. "Kaida sent you here with faith in your abilities. Give your creativity at least that much credit."

When she sauntered back into the elevator with the confident sway of her hips, all he wanted to do was sit down and have a drink.

"I think I get it now," Garrus stopped at the sight to mutter to himself. "Kaida is a genius. But Spirits, there really isn't a big gap between that and a madwoman, is there?"

Krogan. Fairly young krogans judging by their lighter hides and smaller cowls but they were krogan all the same, and in the middle a group that was ten strong was one with a louder laugh and meaner eyes. He was also talking to one John Shepard, who gave the krogan a friendly punch before he looked to the side and spotted Garrus.

"Hey, Vakarian! Looking good for someone who probably hasn't killed anything in about a month."

A month. Spirits, a month is a hell of a long time to be doing—any of this. He cleared his throat. "Shepard, tell me this isn't the Councilor's idea of ideal security."

The krogan closest to John growled. "I don't think I'll like this one as much as you said I would, Shepard."

"Give Garrus some time, Grunt. He doesn't like surprises." He gave the young krogan another nod before turning to Garrus, all smiles and easy posture. "Grunt here is the head of his pack. Long story short: I found them and they like me so they're doing me this favor before they return to Tuchanka."

Garrus crossed his arms. "What crazy thing did you get into while I was swimming in political gunk?"

"Happened a year back. We were separated then, remember? You went to Thessia to deal with drug lords and I went to the Terminus System to deal with Warlords. What happened was you got that nice girlfriend who lasted a couple of months and I got a pack of loyal krogans. Seemed fair."

Garrus chuckled under his breath. "Crazier is the fact you managed to convince both your sister and a bunch of fussy musical pansies that this was good idea."

"You know me, Garrus. Smooth as a baby's bottom."

"John, you do know that some of the human idioms you say just pass right over him." Kaida sauntered towards them, nodding at Garrus before turning to her brother with a lifted eyebrow, then at Grunt with a smile. "So, this is the infamous pack Wrex was willing to lend us. I'm more than surprised that you've found my little brother worthy enough to follow."

Grunt looked taken aback by this. "You know Battlemaster Urdnot?"

Garrus was pretty surprised himself and he didn't do much to hide it as he looked at Kaida, grinning from ear to ear with a sharpness to her eyes. "Let's just say as a former marine I've met a few individuals whom I could call mentors and friends on high risk missions."

John looked at her, wide-eyed. "You stopped being a marine at 18!"

She shrugged. "Details." She smiled at Grunt. "I don't think this is a high risk mission and you're not likely going to be shooting anyone but your pack is a reassurance. Kindly let Wrex know that I'm in good health and that I may be visiting him in the not so distant future." She nodded at them. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me. I'll be heading to practice."

They all watched her walk away. Grunt laughed, a slow menacing one that gave Garrus some pause. "I like her."

John chuckled under his breath. "Good. Because this job would suck if you didn't."

Security detail became smoother after that. Coat of Arms had their own group for security and the details were ironed out by Oriana for that one. They were working with more humans and asari than he'd worked with in a long time. In retaliation, John nudged him in the side with his elbow and wiggled his eyebrows.

Everything was smooth by the time the day of the concert rolled in. Of course, there were two Spectres working on it and it was a little bit of an overkill, but it was for the first human Councillor. Safety was an utmost importance. Garrus spent nearly all of that time in the underground passages, one of the most vulnerable areas of the Coliseum, planning for Kaida's escape route. Reports were chiming that her final song was approaching and security was tightening to make sure the fans don't get rabid.

It was John who tapped him on the shoulder. "Sis is calling you up. I'll take this post."

Garrus blinked at him and nodded. Making his way up just when Coat of Arms left the stage with Kaida behind them. Spotting her, she seemed even more ethereal in her shimmering white dress and her pink-lipped smile, she called him over with a wave of her hand and he stopped in front of her, hands behind his back.

"Spectre," Her smile grew as the glitter in the eye shadow twinkled even in the dark backstage. The crowd in the Coliseum chanted for an encore and tension could be felt even backstage. "This will be my last live performance in a long time. You said you never watched me live?"

"I hear you every day in the office or in the Ridge."

She shook her head, no. "Not the same. Come on." She led him to the side of the stage.

He grabbed onto her forearm just as she was about to leave the shield of the curtains. "Why are you showing me this?"

She put a hand on his arm in return. "You can't be considered mine if you haven't watched me perform." She winked at him as she turned back to the stage. The scream of fifty thousand fans resounding inside the Coliseum, reaching for the sky.

Garrus knew exactly what she meant when she said that. That you couldn't work for Kaida and not know her music, not know what she represented. As John said, the job would suck if you didn't like Kaida and a large part of her was music.

Still, he wanted to misunderstand.

She sang one of the most beautiful ballads he'd ever heard with the kind of skill that would have reduced anyone to tears. On the other hand, Garrus felt his heart race in his chest and he knew he was screwed.