Fortunately, Lucas' wound wasn't as dire as Jules made out. Hannah forgave the young man, assuming he hadn't ever assessed damage caused by enemy projectiles. The wound wasn't insignificant, but the medi-gel Jules had slathered on Lucas' back was doing its job, sealing the injury and aiding the healing process. Lucas moaned when Hannah gently applied an antiseptic cloth to his back, wiping away the blood that still surrounded the area where he'd taken a hit.

"Oh, please," Hannah razzed, "You're such a big baby, Lucas."

Lucas braced his hands against the bed he sat on. "You aren't the one who got shot in the back, Red. You want to be the one who gets it next time, I'm all for that."

Hannah chuckled, glad her friend's humor was still intact. She knew if the projectile had penetrated deeper, Lucas might not be sitting in front of her. She was thankful she hadn't lost a member of her team, not yet. She vowed to be more careful in the future. She hadn't considered Jeparn would have security cameras hidden in his apartment. She should have told Lucas to check out the possibility before they ever entered. She cursed her foolishness silently.

Hannah finished cleaning Lucas up, then turned to Keta, sitting on the other bed in the room, having already applied medi-gel to her leg by herself. Her pant leg was rolled up to the knee and she leaned over inspecting her wound, her good leg pulled up to her chest, elbow resting on the knee, chin cupped in her hand. Hannah worried she might have a concussion, as her eyes appeared glazed over.

"Are you alright?" Hannah asked, standing next to her bed.

Keta's eyes focused as she came out of her reverie. "Fine. I'm fine…If I ever seen Jeparn again, he's dead."

Hannah smiled with half her mouth. Knowing Keta, she didn't doubt the truth of that statement.

"Well, now that we've averted crisis for the moment, we're headed to the Citadel. Pat tells me it could take half a day to get there, but he's going to fly as quickly as possible." She looked to Jules. "We need to find a place for you to bunk." Hannah paused; there wasn't room for Jules with Pat and Lucas. He certainly wasn't going to agree to share with Keta. "Keta," Hannah continued, "any objections to moving into my room and Jules can take yours?"

"None," Keta said, though she shot Jules an angry glare which the young man returned. Hannah sighed inside. She was too tired to deal with the mutual hate Jules and Keta blatantly displayed. For the moment, she decided not to confront them.

"Good. Jules, let me show you your quarters. You two," Hannah said, pointing at Lucas and Keta in turn, "Get some rest."

She exited medical, Jules following her. She showed him the room that would be his, then asked him to accompany her to the conference room. She wanted to determine what would go down once they were on the Citadel. Jules slumped into a chair at the conference table, his face downcast.

"So, tell me about Athena," Hannah began gently. "What's her real name?"

Jules took a breath, opened his mouth, then closed it. He put a hand to his head. "I don't think I should tell you that."

"Are you kidding me?" Hannah exclaimed. "She set you up, used you at the direction of this Orion and Zeus, and you still don't want to turn her in?"

"Well," Jules rationalized weakly, "I've been thinking. Maybe they made her do it. Maybe they set her up, too, and she didn't know what she was really doing."

Hannah let loose an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, Jules, you think she made a mistake? Seems to me those e-mails show she's in tight with Orion and Zeus."

"It's just, I know her," Jules defended his girlfriend, now looking straight at Hannah. "I know her intimately and she…well, she wouldn't do this to me."

Hannah now shook her head. "You said I didn't know you? Did you ever consider I do know you? Maybe you should listen to me, Jules. You're a smart young man, more intelligent and gifted than a lot of people I know. But you just aren't socially savvy. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. You can't read people well."

Jules didn't get angry, but pushed back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. "Maybe I've changed."

Ah, Hannah thought, then he does know his weakness. Aloud she said, "Or maybe you've put your loyalty in the wrong place. You trusted the wrong people."

Jules contemplated Hannah's words, staring off in the distance for a few seconds, his hands on his chin. "I won't give you her name, not yet." Hannah's eyes grew angry and she opened her mouth to argue, but Jules held up a hand. "Just let me talk to her first when we find her on the Citadel. Please? I came along with you, that should prove I want to help you, but I don't want her implicated in this if she's innocent."

Hannah sighed. "Okay." If that was the best she could get out of Jules, she'd take it for the time being.

"Now," Jules said, standing, "If you're done giving me the third degree, I'd like to be alone for a while."

"We're done," Hannah said, releasing Jules from the conversation. He left the conference room quickly. Hannah drew in a long breath. She pulled out her data pad and tabbed it on, not sure what to do now that she was utterly alone. The conference room was so quiet. She scanned the news, catching up with the goings on of the galaxy. There were several reports about apparent geth attacks on different planets. Most commentators thought the geth wanted to get back at organics, quarian or otherwise, for the way they'd been dealt with in the past. There were several conspiracy theorists, though, who postulated someone else was behind the geth and using them for their own purposes. Hannah was just glad she didn't have to worry about a geth attack on top of her current mission. It suddenly occurred to her that Jane might be deep in the middle of these geth attacks. However, another small tidbit of news seemed more promising regarding Jane. There was a report on a rogue Spectre, a turian called Saren, who was being sought by the Council. Maybe Jane was tracking this turian down?

Hannah pushed her chair back from the table and yawned, exhausted after the adrenaline caused by recent events had abated. Why did everyone go rogue? she wondered. Rogue Spectres and rogue Terra Firma cells. She guessed there would always be those who wanted the galaxy run their way. They wanted power and they'd seize it any way they could, even if it meant destroying others in the process. Hannah remembered Jane's desires to see a united galaxy. To Hannah's way of thinking, that dream was pie in the sky—it would never happen, though she was sure Jane would make a valiant effort.

Hannah decided to tap off a quick message to Steven, then retire to her room for the sleep she sorely needed. Admiral Hackett, headed to the Citadel again. Let me know who's on my side. Commander Shepard.

Hannah's comm came alive with a voice in her ear.

"Hannah?"

Hannah recognized Keta's voice. "Yes?"

"I wanted to let you know they contacted me again."

"Are you in my room?"

"Yes."

"I'll be there in a moment. I was just getting up."

The comm went silent, Keta disconnecting. Hannah turned off her data pad, then stood up, carrying it with her as she exited the conference room and entered her quarters. Keta sat on one of the beds in the room, her back against the wall. Hannah sat down opposite the batarian on her own bed, sliding her data pad on a shelf next to the bed as she did so.

"What did they say?"

"Your daughter's moving back towards human space. She's fast. If I was trying to kill her, I probably would have trouble catching up with her."

"Were they upset you hadn't killed her yet?"

"Yes, but I told them it couldn't be helped, that I was delayed by a fight with old enemies." Hannah nodded, acknowledging Keta's useful half-truth. "They're threatening me more. They want this done soon. Whatever plan they have, it must be contingent on your daughter dying."

Hannah narrowed her eyes. "So, you still think they want more than just Jane's death?"

"Definitely," Keta affirmed. "This is deeper than a simple assassination as I said before."

Hannah's chest rose as she breathed deeply. She once again regretted she wasn't skilled at spying. She felt entirely out of her element on this mission. "Well, we'll get to the Citadel and track these people down, then figure out what to do with them."

"Is there any doubt?" Keta asked.

Hannah tilted her head. "Keta, this is the Alliance. We don't just kill people like assassins. They get arrested and have to defend themselves in court."

Keta snorted. "Relying on bureaucratic red tape is a waste of time."

Hannah didn't like red tape, she never had. But she was loyal to the Alliance and she knew its laws existed for a purpose. If you just killed people outright without a chance to speak their piece, how many innocents would die? "In our culture, it's innocent until proven guilty—in a court of law."

Keta sighed, her defensiveness fading. "That sounds good, actually, I guess. It's the other way around with the Hegemony. They take out anyone they want to when they want to. And their 'courts' are a farce."

"So you understand why we have to take this slowly and do it right."

"I understand, but it's not in my nature," Keta answered. She lowered her head and put her hand on her forehead. Hannah perceived something else was troubling her greatly.

"What's wrong?" Hannah asked.

Keta looked up, then unexpectedly laughed. "I don't know why I feel I can tell you things. I don't tell anyone anything, yet with you, it's like we've been friends since childhood."

Hannah smiled. "Maybe it's just that I care, and you aren't used to that."

Keta nodded thoughtfully.

"So what's bothering you?"

Keta breathed slowly. "I'm not used to…" she paused, her eyes wandering, searching for the right word, "…loyalty either."

"That makes sense," Hannah said, wondering what had caused Keta to consider the lack of loyalty in her life. "But you're loyal to me, for which I'm grateful. I mean, you didn't kill my daughter. How much did they offer you anyway?"

Keta grinned. "Three million credits."

"Three million?!" Hannah sucked in a breath. Terra Firma, or its rogue cells, must want Jane's death badly.

"I'm loyal to you," Keta went on, addressing Hannah's original statement, "because the day I saw you punch Balak was the happiest day of my life."

Hannah now grinned, remembering the punch and Balak's astonishment that a human woman had laid one on him. "If you hate him so much, I'm surprised you haven't killed him by now."

"Oh, it's not that I haven't thought of it…" Keta replied, crossing her arms and hugging her sides.

Hannah felt sudden realization, leaning forward on her bed. "You still love him."

"Only a very little bit," Keta admitted.

Hannah knew abused women often continued to love their abusers, even after they had suffered the worst beatings. "I think it's good you joined us," Hannah mused. "It's about time you experienced true kindness and loyalty."

Keta uncrossed her arms and rubbed her hands over her face, all four of her eyes blinking rapidly. "It's so…different." She paused again, sucking in her lips, then blurted out her inner thoughts. "Lucas had no reason to come back for me, but he did. I didn't think he liked me at all."

Now Hannah understood the root of Keta's questions concerning loyalty. She hadn't expected someone to put himself in danger just to rescue her. All Keta's life she'd been forced to rely on herself alone and for the most part, those she'd met had viewed her only as an asset or a hindrance, how they would gain or lose by entering into a relationship with her. Unconditional friendship wasn't something she'd experienced.

"Lucas is an Alliance officer. We're loyal to our teams, no matter how we feel about them. Besides, I think you've grown on him."

"Maybe," Keta replied, then laid down on her bed, gingerly moving her wounded leg. Hannah sensed the conversation was over. She lay back on her own bed, more than willing to close her eyes and get the rest she needed before the next stage of her mission.

Hannah opened her eyes, roused from sleep by a nightmare. She couldn't recall it once she was fully awake, but she knew it had something to do with Jane dying. Relief flooded through her when she discovered she'd only been dreaming. She sat up on her bed, looking across the room and noticing Keta was no longer present. Her data pad beeped softly and she saw Steven had sent a message back.

Commander Shepard, glad you get time to visit the Citadel again. I have some good friends there. Look them up if you have the time: Donnel Udina and David Anderson. Admiral Hackett.

So, David Anderson was on the Citadel. Maybe she'd get to see the man she hadn't in years and find out how he'd become friends with her daughter. Udina she recognized as the name of the human ambassador on the Citadel. Two names, two people she could potentially trust if she needed them. She was glad Steven was so politically entrenched and had made friends in high places. She stood up from the bed, splashed her face with some water at the sink and ran a toothbrush over her teeth. She headed to the door, intending to check on Lucas, then get an update from Pat.

She pushed the panel at Lucas' door, but there was no answer. Afraid something was amiss, she punched in a code, causing the door to hiss open. No one was in the room. She walked to the conference room. The door opened to reveal only Jules, sitting at the table by himself, his homemade device in front of him.

"Where's Lucas?" Hannah asked.

Jules looked up guiltily, turning off his device, then shrugged. "Still in medical?"

"What are you doing?" Hannah asked, suspicious.

"Just…reading." Jules bowed his head gloomily. Hannah reminded herself to pump Jules for more information regarding the files he'd copied on Terra Firma from Jeparn's data. She left the conference room, pacing to the back of the ship towards medical. As she approached, she heard voices speaking quietly. She halted just outside the entrance to listen.

"So why did you come see me anyway?" Lucas was asking.

"Just, wanting to make sure you're okay," Keta's voice replied.

"Uh huh. Well, that's just strange, considering you think I'm just a grufax." Hannah sensed Lucas' teasing tone, but Keta didn't read it correctly.

"I'm trying to be nice to you!" Keta insisted loudly.

Lucas laughed. "I was just joking…grufax."

Now Hannah heard Keta's soft chortle. "Alright, I get it. I came to say…thank you...for coming back for me." Hannah could tell Keta wasn't used to thanking anyone.

"You're welcome." Lucas returned. "I mean, you're kind of useful to have around."

"Ah," Keta said. "So that's the reason you helped me."

Lucas abruptly backtracked, realizing Keta still hadn't picked up when he was kidding. "No, no, I was joking again."

"Oh. I'm afraid I'm not so good with human humor."

"It was a bad joke. I shouldn't have said it. I mean, you are useful, you know, for the mission, but I think I like you as a person, too...I mean batarian. As a batarian."

"You're not a bad human yourself," Keta returned the complement.

Hannah's comm came to life, Pat's voice speaking in her ear. "Commander, we're getting close to the Citadel. I pulled some strings, moved us through the relays faster."

Hannah backed away from the entrance to medical to respond out of ear shot. "Thanks, Pat." She then walked conspicuously through the entrance.

"So," she said, "How're you doing?"

Lucas had changed clothes, wearing a pair of navy pants and green pull over shirt that looked "Lucas-like." Keta stood with her back against the far wall.

"Good," Lucas said. "Not great. Still stings, but I'll be ready when we get to the Citadel."

Hannah nodded, once again pleased he was alright. Color had come back to his face. If she hadn't been there when he'd taken a bullet to the back, she would have thought nothing had happened to him at all. She silently praised the inventors of medi-gel.

"Pat says we're going to reach the Citadel soon. I'd like to meet in the conference room, plan out how to confront this 'Athena.'"

"Yes, ma'am," Lucas said dutifully. He pushed himself off the bed, then hesitated a moment, gaining his footing.

"Can you walk?" Keta asked, moving from the wall to his side.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just still feeling a bit winded and sore."

Hannah turned on her heel, heading to the conference room. She smiled to herself. It was nice to see Lucas and Keta finally learning to be friends.

Hannah gazed at the three expectant faces around the conference table. Lucas and Keta, having been created friends through circumstances, sat next to each other. Having both been shot recently, they were in surprisingly good spirits, eager to confront whoever was behind this plot against Jane and indirectly responsible for their injuries. Jules sat about mid way down the left side of the table. Unlike Lucas and Keta, Jules seemed entirely reluctant, most likely apprehensive over the fact he'd have to face a lying girlfriend once they reached the Citadel.

"Jules, is there any other data from Jeparn's files that will help us?" Hannah began the meeting.

"Not really," Jules informed her. "A lot of it's just…personal communication."

"Like what?" Keta asked, not able to let Jules' hesitancy go by without a jab to his ego. "Your girlfriend cheating on you?"

Jules glared at her, his usual way of looking at Keta. "Mind your own business, batarian," he spat out at her.

"Okay, look!" Hannah spoke with full authority. "Right now, I don't care who likes each other and who doesn't. All I care about is that my daughter isn't the victim of some violent Terra Firma or rogue cell plot. So I'm going to ask all three of you to keep your emotions under control. You're all adults here," she stared pointed at Jules, "so act like them, alright?"

Keta slowly bobbed her head. "I will do as you ask." She looked to Jules, challenging him not to live up to Hannah's request.

"I will, too," Jules said adamantly, not wanting to be shown up by the batarian in any way.

"Alright, so personal communication. Anything else?"

Jules scrolled through the data on his device. "The only other message that references Jane says that the death of the Spectre is necessary 'to move plans along.' I have no idea what that means."

Hannah flicked her gaze to Keta who nodded. "Keta does. She's sensed there's been something more here than just killing Jane from the beginning. There's a deeper plot we haven't discovered yet. I want to know what it is."

"So," Lucas piped in, "We find Jules' girlfriend and interrogate her." He sounded a little too enthusiastic and Hannah sent him a warning glance. "I don't mean physically beat her up, just, maybe threaten her a little, get her to tell us what's up."

"I concur," Keta added her two bits, supporting Lucas' idea.

"Well, I don't!" Jules cried out.

"I promised Jules he could talk to her first."

"What?" Lucas questioned. "You're going to let him go in and tip her off?"

"We'll be listening. We'll stay near Jules and listen as he talks to her. When the time is right, we'll confront her."

"Are you sure about this, Hannah?" Lucas asked, clearly doubtful this plan would work.

Hannah shifted her eyes at Keta, then fixed her gaze on Lucas. "Innocent until proven guilty, isn't she, Lucas? We need to be sure and not accuse an innocent person of a crime."

Lucas sighed roughly. "You're right. I agree to the plan."

"Good. So," Hannah reviewed. "We'll get onto the Citadel. Jules will try to find 'Athena.' Then, we listen and approach her when the time is right. Keta, do you want to be with us, or do want to come onto the station alone?"

"I think it will be best if I'm alone."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Lucas asked, eyeing her protectively. Hannah giggled inside. Apparently saving Keta had produced a desire within Lucas to continue acting as her defender.

"It's best," Keta replied. "I need to maintain a low profile. Walking around with three humans or even you two on the Citadel, isn't my idea of keeping hidden. I'll follow, watch from the sidelines, appear when needed."

Hannah sat back in her chair. "Then we're ready."

Pat pulled the Agrippa into the Citadel docks an hour later. Jules left the ship ahead of Hannah and Lucas who followed several meters behind him. Hannah didn't want to chance anything this time and had ordered Lucas to suit up in his armor. She had as well. If they found themselves in another shoot out, they'd be ready.

"Jules, can you hear me?" Hannah asked as she walked. Jules reached up and scratched the top of his head, the signal they'd decided meant he'd heard her.

"What about you?" she heard Jules' voice in her ear. She looked to Lucas who nodded.

"Loud and clear. Where are you headed?"

"An information terminal. I'm going to see if she's registered here." Jules walked several more feet, then paused, pushing buttons on a terminal. Hannah and Lucas stood to the side of the walkway, trying to look nonchalant. Aliens and humans passed by them, all busily consumed with their own work and destinations, not even noticing the two Alliance officers loitering to the side.

"She's here," Jules said. Hannah saw Jules' omni-tool flash on. She wondered how much time you could get for hacking a Citadel terminal. "That's all it can tell me. Only that she's here."

"Okay, you want to just walk around and look for her?"

"I'll head to the Upper Wards. She's told me she always likes to shop there." Jules started walking again, Hannah and Lucas trailing him. When they reached the Upper Wards, Jules slowed his pace, studying passersby and scanning the hallways. Hannah saw him rub his hands on his pants. She imagined his hands were slick with sweat at the thought of talking to the girl who had betrayed him.

Jules reached the end of the hall and a set of stairs that were all too familiar to Hannah. "I'm going into Flux."

"Yes, good choice, kid," Lucas spoke enthusiastically.

"Lucas," Hannah hissed. "Now is not the time."

"I'm not going to drink," Jules muttered. "She might be in there."

Jules climbed the steps and Hannah and Lucas followed. As they entered the noisy club and Jules looked around, Hannah heard a sharp intake of air. "I see her." Jules didn't move. He just stood there, rooted to the spot, seemingly unwilling to step any closer to his girlfriend.

"Jules," Hannah spoke softly. "You can do this. Don't let her win this game."

Jules moved forward, bolstered by Hannah's words. He approached a table on the lower floor, far at the back of the club. Hannah and Lucas sat down three tables away, Hannah concentrating on Jules.

"Jules?" she heard a startled, smooth female voice speak. "What are you doing here? I…I thought you didn't ever come to the Citadel."

"Is that how you welcome your boyfriend?" Jules asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Oh, sorry. Of course, it's so good to see you!" Hannah saw the girl Jules had approached stand up and throw her arms around him, hugging him. Jules hugged her back, albeit slowly and not with much excitement. As she let go of Jules, Hannah observed "Athena." She had short, wavy black hair that bobbed beneath her ears, make-up that was too perfect and a slim, hourglass shape. No wonder Jules had fallen hook, line and sinker for this girl.

"Um, want a drink?" "Athena" asked.

"No."

"Oh. Okay? I guess, let's chat then." The girl sat uncertainly, Hannah sensing she knew something was wrong. "So…why're you on the Citadel? Underground business?"

"I found the router."

Lucas shifted in his seat, annoyed Jules was taking the credit for his find. Hannah lifted her eyebrows at him as if to say, "He can't tell her you found it." Lucas waved his hand, conceding to the truthfulness of her thought.

"Uh…what router?" Hannah had to smile at "Athena's" attempt to fake innocence. She failed miserably. She might have fooled Jules when she had a plan, but she'd been taken by surprise now and it showed.

"You did plant it," Jules stated, his voice portraying resentfulness now that he knew she'd used him for certain.

"Really, Jules, I just don't know…"

"Stop lying to me! Just tell me why. Did they force you or did you do it willingly?"

"Jules, it's really not like you to be this…insistent," "Athena" declared, apparently trying to change the subject. Hannah heard a shake in her voice and the girl covered her eyes, pretending to cry. Hannah rolled her eyes.

"She's still trying to play you, Jules," she warned.

Jules scratched the top of his head again, then reached over and roughly pulled her hand away from her face. "You're lying to me, even now."

"Athena's" face now changed. She was no longer the put upon maiden, now she was proud and haughty. "Alright. So I did plant it. So what? It was to help the cause."

"Did you ever love me?" Jules' voice came out low and hurt.

Hannah saw the girl breath in and out slowly. "I…like you."

Jules shook his head. "So when you said you loved me, that was a lie too, Giovanna, wasn't it?"

Hannah and Lucas stood up from their table. Jules had given them the go ahead to approach by using his girlfriend's real name. They moved over to the table and each took a seat next to Giovanna. The girl looked back and forth at them, suddenly anxious.

"Who are you?"

"They're friends," Jules said, emphasizing the last word to shame the girl in front of him.

Hannah stuck out her hand. "I'm Commander Hannah Shepard, Jane Shepard's mother," she spoke tersely.

Giovanna started and the blood drained out of her face. "I…I…"

"We know what you're planning to do with Zeus and Orion."

Giovanna's eyes flicked all over the room, as if looking for someone who could rescue her.

"You're going to tell us who you're working for and what the plan is."

Giovanna didn't find anyone to call out to and looked angrily at the people around her table. "I'm not telling you anything."

"If you don't, this isn't going to end well," Hannah pushed.

"What? You'll kill me? I don't believe you're capable of that."

Hannah leaned in close to Giovanna's face, so close the girl flinched when she spoke. "I am so capable, my dear. But I'm also fair. I'm giving you a chance to avoid prison for the rest of your life. I bet the Council doesn't take kindly to people trying to kill Spectres."

Giovanna visibly shuddered, but still held her ground. "I won't tell you. I…I won't turn him in."

"Ah," Hannah sat back. She looked to Jules. "She loves someone else. She's protecting one of them."

Jules stared at Giovanna with eyes of betrayal. Giovanna turned her face away from him. She made to stand up, but Lucas grabbed her wrist, holding her at the table. "You aren't going anywhere. You're an Alliance citizen and we're Alliance Navy officers. Out here, we have the right to detain you here and now on suspicion of conspiracy to murder."

"Then do it!" Giovanna challenged. Lucas looked to Hannah for direction.

"We'll take her to the ambassador. Show him our evidence."

Lucas stood up, pulling Giovanna along with him, pinning her hands behind her back and making her walk in front of him. As they left Flux, people and aliens watched them pass, curious at what was happening, but not wanting to get involved. They had almost reached the elevator, when someone in a dark cape bumped into Lucas and Giovanna, then passed on by. Hannah turned to look behind, pondering if she'd correctly intuited the identity of the retreating figure.

"Ambassador," Hannah said, holding out her hand. Udina shook it. Hannah wasn't impressed. He was one of those people who had a weak handshake that made you feel you were handling a dead fish.

"Commander," Udina returned, his face solemn. "I was surprised when you contacted me."

"Yes, sir."

Udina sent a critical eye over Lucas and the girl he held in front of him as well as the young man standing obediently behind them. "What do you need?"

"Admiral Hackett said I could contact you if I needed help."

"Oh, yes?"

"I've been investigating a threat to Commander Jane Shepard."

"Ah, Shepard," Udina intoned, sounding none too pleased. He sighed. "And?"

"We became aware of a plot to assassinate the Commander."

Udina raised his eyebrows. "This girl?" he asked doubtfully.

"Not directly," Hannah said. "The plot comes from Terra Firma or one of its rogue cells."

Udina gave her an incredulous look. "Terra Firma has gained several seats in the Parliament. It is a respectable party. I may not always agree with their ideas, but several of my friends support Terra Firma. It doesn't have 'rogue cells.' If it did, my intelligence reports would have mentioned them."

Hannah took a long breath, considering Donnel Udina. Steven may have thought him trustworthy, but Hannah had the sinking feeling she would get nowhere with him.

"I have proof," Jules spoke up, stepping up to Udina and shoving his device into the ambassador's hands.

"What is this?"

"Please, read it, sir," Hannah pleaded.

Udina skimmed the messages, scrolling through them. As he did so, the door slid open and someone else entered. Hannah recognized David Anderson. He was thirteen years older, but still the same handsome man she remembered. He raised his eyebrows, perplexed at seeing both her and the group in the ambassador's office. "I see the implications. These people, Athena, Orion, Zeus, have tried to hire someone to kill a Spectre. Were you aware the Council has a rogue Spectre on its hands, a turian?"

Hannah nodded.

"How do you know this doesn't refer to that Spectre and not your daughter?" Hannah's feathers ruffled at Udina's underlying implication that she was only here because she was an over reactive mother.

"I've spoken to the batarian who was hired. She confirms she was hired to kill Commander Shepard."

"Excuse me," Anderson spoke up. "Who was hired to kill Shepard?"

Udina turned weary eyes on Anderson. "These…officers are claiming this girl is part of a plot to kill the first human Spectre." Udina passed Jules' device over to Anderson, who read the messages, his face darkening as he did so.

"You talked to a batarian? How?" Udina asked, addressing Hannah again.

"She came to me. We know each other from the past and she came to tell me that she'd been hired."

"Hum…" Udina intoned. "And where is this batarian now?"

"She's on station. Would you like to talk to her?" Hannah asked.

Udina began to mutter under his breath, then stopped and spoke clearly. "Do you think this girl is Athena?"

"We know she is."

"She planted a router in my apartment to set me up," Jules spoke loudly.

"We monitored the assassin's calls and they led us to his apartment," Hannah explained.

"What's your name?" Udina asked, turning from Hannah to the girl.

"Giovanna Moretti. And I'm innocent. These people accosted me. I'm not even part of Terra Firma's party. Look at my file."

Udina moved to his desk, fiddling with his computer. "Giovanna Moretti. Recently arrived on the Citadel from Earth. Family is a farming family in Italy. Born in Venice. Registered with the Uni Pax party. On the Citadel to foster trade relations between Earth and the Citadel." Udina looked at Hannah. "There's nothing untoward here."

"The entry's a lie!" Lucas called out. "Anyone can lie about why they're here."

"Look, Commander," Udina spoke stiffly to Hannah. "I don't deny these messages hold serious implications. But they may not apply to your daughter. You can't even trust your source. This batarian assassin found you, not the other way around. Batarians aren't known for their honesty or their love of humanity. As for this girl and planting a router, does this young man have proof she planted it? Did he see her?"

"She's Athena! She's in the messages!" Jules cried out, pointing at his device still in Anderson's hand.

"And how do you know she's Athena?"

"She told me. I work for Terra Firma. She does, too."

"I just broke up with him," Giovanna spoke up. "Two weeks ago. It was a bad breakup. Ask him if he was my boyfriend."

Now Udina looked annoyed. "Well, were you?"

"Yes," Jules spluttered, "But…"

"Enough!" Udina put his hand in the air. "I have more important things to do than satisfy a mother's fears." Hannah had the sudden feeling all she wanted to do was slap Donnel Udina hard across the face. "The only evidence you present are four messages, vague and most likely referring to another Spectre, the rogue one we all know is harassing the galaxy. Your batarian assassin is probably lying to make humanity look bad in front of the Council. We take this to them and they laugh in our faces when they find out the plot has nothing to do with Commander Shepard. We look like suspicious fools."

"But this young man," Anderson began, but was abruptly interrupted by Udina.

"This young man," Udina said, pointing to Jules, but talking to Anderson, "just broke up with his girlfriend and can find no better way to get back at her than sell her out to the mother of the newest Spectre and claim she's the culprit. For all we know, this young man planted the router himself to implicate her." Jules let out an angry snarl and Udina narrowed his eyes at him. "All I see here are conspiracy theories run amok…Now, let that girl go. If you find any definitive proof, I'll listen. For now, get out of my office and let me do some real work for the Alliance."

Giovanna pushed away from Lucas who reluctantly let her go. She huffed to the door and strode out of the office, her head held high. Hannah and her crew followed, watching the girl walk down the hall.

"So, the cat's out of the bag," Lucas spoke quietly. "Now they know we know. They'll be after Keta and hire someone else to get Jane."

"Not if I can help it."

Hannah turned. David Anderson had followed them out the door. He reached out and shook Hannah's hand, a firm, solid handshake. "Nice to see you again…Commander."

"You as well. You believe us?"

Anderson nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised if Terra Firma has a beef with Jane. Her views on aliens are well known. Why haven't you told her about this assassination plot?"

"We don't know who's been compromised," Hannah explained, her hope soaring as she spoke to Anderson, hoping he'd have the clout to bring the people who threatened Jane down. "It's possible they have a mole on the Normandy, maybe have even bugged Jane."

Anderson put a hand to his chin. "I assume, despite Udina's conclusions, your evidence is sound."

"Irrefutable," Hannah said.

"I can put a tail on the girl. Lock her down on the Citadel."

"Or maybe you can just track her," a new voice added to the conversation. The voice was low, the figure caped, but Hannah knew without a doubt Keta was hidden inside.

"And you are…" Anderson said.

Hannah lowered her voice. "She's the assassin who alerted me to the plot."

"Hum…" Anderson intoned. "Batarian on the station. I understand why you're hiding."

"How do we track her?" Hannah asked Keta.

Keta lit up her omni-tool and moved next to Hannah, showing her a map of the Citadel with a flashing dot moving around it. "I planted a tracker on her."

Hannah smiled knowingly. So it had been Keta who bumped into Lucas and Giovanna.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Anderson spoke to the group. "Let's find out where she goes."