Hannah decided it wasn't a good idea for four people to stand around in the hall outside Udina's office huddled breathlessly around Keta, staring at her omni-tool. Instead, she ordered Keta to walk ahead, followed by herself and Anderson and then Lucas and Jules at intervals. As she kept an eye on Keta, Hannah glimpsed David Anderson with her peripheral vision.

"Thanks for believing me."

"A trained and accomplished Alliance officer who maintains her control enough to fight off a slew of batarians on Mindoir isn't prone to silly conspiracy theories."

"The ambassador doesn't seem to share your opinion."

Anderson sighed. "Udina's primary focus is the appearance of humanity. He's obsessed with impressing the Council. He would never take anything to them unless he could be assured he'd be respected and valued for it."

"In other words," Hannah concluded, "he doesn't want to look bad."

"He's a bit arrogant," Anderson conceded.

Hannah laughed. "Only a bit?"

Anderson smiled broadly. "Perhaps more than that."

"Keta's stopped at an elevator." Hannah and Anderson halted next to the batarian, separated from her by a few feet, pretending they were waiting for the elevator as well.

"She's gone to another level," Keta whispered, her voice still low as it filtered through her modulator.

"Jules," Hannah spoke quietly. "Can you still hear me?"

"Yes."

"Did you hear Keta?"

"No."

"Giovanna's got on the elevator. Watch where it goes, then take the next car after us."

"Okay."

The elevator arrived and Keta, Hannah and Anderson stepped inside. When the door shut, Anderson turned to Keta.

"David Anderson," he introduced himself, sticking out his hand.

Keta reached out slowly and shook his hand. "Keta La'ali."

Anderson looked to Hannah. "Do I even want to ask how you met and became friends with a batarian assassin?"

"It's a long story," Hannah returned, not wanting to go into details at the present time.

"I want to hear it some day," Anderson insisted. "When we've got the time."

The elevator descended, moving down to the Lower Wards. When the door opened, Keta exited and started walking down the hall to the left. Hannah and Anderson followed. After a while, Hannah glanced briefly over her shoulder and saw Lucas and Jules behind them. They must have walked for twenty more minutes before Keta changed direction and went into a store. Hannah peered cautiously inside, but didn't see Giovanna anywhere.

"I'll wait here," Anderson said. "You go in and see what your friend's up to."

Hannah entered and scanned down several aisles, finally identifying Keta at the back of the store, seemingly ruminating at a snack bar. She sauntered up to her.

"Hungry?" Hannah asked, half-teasing, half-curious.

"No," Keta's voice answered seriously. "I didn't want to attract the attention of anyone out there. She's stopped moving. She's in an apartment not far from here. I think at this point, you should go on without me."

Hannah's eyebrows creased. "You're pulling out?"

"Not entirely. I've stayed alive by keeping three steps ahead of my enemies. My skills are best used when I shoot from a distance, then get out. You're an Alliance officer, about to confront Alliance citizens in person. I'm just a worthless batarian."

"You aren't worthless to me," Hannah objected, rejecting Keta's description of herself.

Keta paused a moment. "What I mean is, I don't know if I'll be safe. On this station, I'm in constant danger, surrounded by species who don't like batarians. I'm sure this girl is giving me up right now and after she does, my life is in danger. And if things go wrong, I don't have the support behind me that you do to protect myself."

"So what role do you want to play?

"I need to stay behind the scenes. Let you and your Alliance friends do what you must and cover your backs as needed."

"I understand," Hannah said. She knew Keta wasn't saying this out of fear, but wisdom. It made complete sense. Hannah was glad Keta had thought ahead. She didn't want Keta's capture or death on her hands.

Keta handed her omni-tool to Hannah. "You follow her in. I'll be out of sight."

"Got it." Hannah turned to leave, but Keta's hand on her arm stopped her.

"I may not like the young human we picked up on Omega, but I suppose to be loyal to you I should point out that he's in danger as well. He is aware they set him up and he's a liability to them now."

Hannah heard a gasp in her ear and knew Jules had heard Keta's evaluation of the current situation as it concerned himself. Hannah hadn't considered how Terra Firma would now view Jules. Keta was right. Jules had inside information. If Giovanna was spilling the beans right now, he'd be one of the first people they'd want out of the way.

"Jules?"

"Yes?" she heard the young man's voice, taut with fear.

"Send Lucas into the store."

In only a few seconds, Lucas appeared next to Hannah. "I want you to take Jules back to the Agrippa. Have Pat lock it down. Tell him no visitors are allowed onboard without my permission."

Lucas looked from Hannah to Keta. "I'm not leaving you, not when you need me."

"I think Captain Anderson can fill in for you quite well. He's got a lot of experience and authority."

Lucas sucked in an unhappy breath. "Is this an order?"

"Yep."

"Alright, ma'am. I'll get him back," he consented reluctantly. "What should I do after he's there?"

Hannah looked to Keta for an idea.

"Stand guard and watch out," she spoke up. "If they come for him, take them by surprise."

Lucas nodded. "See you back on the ship." He turned and left the store. Hannah spoke to Jules through her comm. "Jules, if I need you, I'll let you know. You can disconnect. Might be safer that way."

"Yes, of course. Disconnecting."

Hannah left the store and stood in front of Anderson whose eyebrows were raised. "My friend needs to stay incognito. Since they know she won't be killing Jane, she's in danger. And Jules is in trouble, too. I don't know how angry they'll be that he put two and two together."

Anderson nodded. "So, your friend gave you her omni-tool?"

Hannah nodded, fitting it over her wrist and flipping it on. The map glowed brightly, a red dot now stationary not far from the store. "Giovanna's in an apartment not far from here. Are you armed?"

Anderson smirked. "I learned long ago not to go anywhere without a weapon." He pointed to the boot he wore. "So, it's just you and me, Commander. One old rooster and one old hen." Hannah grinned, remembering the line she'd used on Anderson when she'd first met him.

"You think we can take the spring chickens?" she asked.

"Oh, I think we've learned a trick or two in our days."

"That we have. Let's go."

Hannah and Anderson evaluated the hall to the apartment. A couple humans were chatting against one wall, one of them a woman loudly complaining about her husband. They appeared harmless. Still, Anderson bent over and pulled a pistol out of his boot, ready if the loiterers were not what they seemed. They passed the couple without incident and proceeded down the hall. The apartment was at the end in a corner.

Hannah sent Anderson a look that asked, "What do we do now?"

Anderson pushed the panel outside the door. "Straightforward is best."

Hannah nodded and her heart quickened its pace. This was it, the moment she would finally come face to face with whoever was behind the plot against Jane. She'd find out why they wanted her daughter to die so badly and eliminate the threat.

The door opened and a man in his late forties said, "About time…" then his voice faded and his eyes grew wide. Anderson pushed him inside, holding the pistol to his chest. Hannah brought her own pistol to bear, training it immediately on Giovanna who had risen from an easy chair.

"This is outrageous!" the girl cried out. "You have no right to come into this apartment! It's private property!"

"You want to call C-Sec?" Anderson asked. "I'd be happy to share the evidence we have with them. Let them know they have terrorists on the station."

Giovanna hesitated, not willing to call Anderson's bluff. Hannah didn't think C-Sec would take kindly to people being held against their will inside their apartments. Luckily, Giovanna's guilt was so potent, she didn't think that far. Or maybe she just didn't want to chance that C-Sec would believe Anderson and start its own investigation.

"I haven't done anything wrong!" the middle aged man bellowed out, his grey eyes darting between Anderson and Hannah.

When Hannah glanced at him, a memory stirred in her mind. He looked familiar. She knew she had seen him before. But where?

"Who were you expecting?" Anderson demanded. The man's eyes flicked momentarily to Giovanna.

"No one."

"Right," Anderson said sarcastically. "Have a seat. We'll wait together."

The man obediently sat, but he looked to Giovanna again, clearly worried. His thick eyebrows bounced up and down, full of nervous excitement. Giovanna flipped on her omni-tool.

"I'm calling the ambassador. I'm sure he'll be appalled."

Hannah stepped close to her and held the pistol to her forehead. The girl stopped tapping her omni-tool. Her face rose to glare at Hannah with anger, but also fear, evident on her face. "You've threatened my daughter. Don't think I won't do whatever I have to do to save her."

Giovanna shut down her omni-tool. Time ticked by. As it did, Hannah kept glancing back at the man, wracking her brains to remember where she had seen him before. She felt like the answer was on the tip of her brain, so very close. It involved Jane. She'd seen this man when she'd been with Jane somewhere.

After what seemed like hours, a chime sounded in the room. Giovanna shifted in her seat, her fear now palpable. "Don't kill him. Please," she whispered, fixing Hannah with imploring eyes.

Anderson walked to the door, still keeping his pistol leveled at the man sitting on a couch. He pushed the panel next to the door and it slid open.

"Uh…Captain Anderson?"

"Come in, Mr. Saracino," Anderson spoke nonchalantly.

The man called Saracino walked through the door, but then saw Hannah holding a gun to Giovanna's head. He swiveled around, intending to bolt through the door, but Anderson had already closed and locked it.

"Look…I just came here cause that girl," he said, pointing to Giovanna, "asked me to. I have no idea what is going on."

"Sit, down," Anderson said, emphasizing each word. Saracino moved to sit next to the man as yet unnamed.

"Now," Anderson began, eyeing each of the three people staring at him uncertainly in turn. "Commander Hannah Shepard has uncovered a plot to kill Commander Jane Shepard, first human Spectre."

"And that involves us how?" Saracino challenged.

Giovanna suddenly blurted out, "Jules found the router. I'm so sorry, Charles. He found it and somehow they found out and…"

"Shut up!" Saracino yelled across the room. "Keep your mouth closed."

Giovanna stopped talking, but tears formed in her eyes and this time, Hannah knew they were real.

Hannah stared at the man named Charles Saracino. She sensed he was the authority in the room. "You're Zeus."

There was a slight hesitancy before Saracino answered with a question. "Who? Look, if you had any evidence, we'd be at C-Sec headquarters. I can call C-Sec right now."

Hannah had pulled out her data pad and started reading. "'Orion, you've done well. Humanity is blessed to be in your hands. Soon, human space will be cleansed. Find me at the usual place on Mount Olympus. Zeus. P.S. Tell Athena she can join me on Olympus.'"

The blood drained out of Saracino's face. "How…"

Hannah suddenly turned her gun on Saracino, fury overwhelming her. "Why do you want to kill my daughter?" she shouted. Before Saracino could answer, Hannah felt a sharp pain in her forearm as Giovanna jumped up and karate chopped the gun out of her hand. The pistol clattered across the floor and Giovanna made a dive for it. Hannah was on top of her in a minute, pulling her back, then kicking her out of the way. She snatched up the pistol and turned it back on the girl, grabbing Giovanna's arm and hauling her to her feet. She looked into the girl's face.

"You know how many I've fought and killed in my time in the Alliance Navy? More than you, that's for sure. I wouldn't try anything." She pushed the girl back into the easy chair. She locked eyes with Anderson for a moment and nodded at him, assuring him she was alright. Her arm ached, but she ignored it.

Anderson picked up the question. "So, why do you want Commander Shepard dead?"

"I don't want her dead," Saracino insisted, holding his hands up in a gesture of innocence. "That message wasn't sent by me."

"The guilt's written all over your face," Anderson laughed harshly.

Saracino scowled at him. "Is this because we're Terra Firma, because Commander Shepard's an alien-loving pacifist and wants to get back at us?"

"I thought you weren't Terra Firma," Hannah spat out to Giovanna.

"Well…I…was thinking of changing." She glowered at Saracino who looked disappointed in himself as he realized he'd inadvertently uncovered one of her lies.

"Is that why you want to kill her? Because she's an 'alien-loving pacifist'?" Anderson pushed Saracino.

"That's it," Saracino called out. "I'm calling in C-Sec. You don't have any evidence, just some message that doesn't mention any of us. And since you don't, I think it's time you left." He put his hand to his ear, but Anderson walked over and pulled his hand down. "You can't…"

"There's a rumor," Anderson said, his tone low and threatening, "that your hands are deep in the cookie jar. I may be retired from the Navy, but I still have friends in high places. It wouldn't take much for me to get an investigation started into your finances, check your statements. You could end up in front of a Parliament investigation committee."

Saracino nervously rubbed his stubbly beard, but said nothing.

"Let's go, Commander," Anderson said to Hannah, but Hannah didn't move. "Commander?"

"You were on Arcturus," she said slowly, "on the maintenance catwalk. The day the turian ambassador arrived."

The eyes of the man sitting next to Saracino widened in recognition. Saracino turned to look at him, his features registering genuine surprise.

"And later," Hannah continued, "there was an attempted assassination, but they never found the culprit."

"Lady, I've never been to Arcturus," the man said, but his attempt at lying failed miserably, his voice shaking, as if Hannah had uncovered a skeleton in his closet he'd kept hidden for years.

"Commander," Anderson called again. Hannah walked over to stand next to him at the door.

"Let me make the deal clear," Anderson concluded decisively. "You call off any attempts to kill Commander Jane Shepard. If you don't, we'll start an investigation into your finances, Mr. Saracino. And we'll let the Alliance know the assassin from Arcturus has been found. You want to chance their video footage of that day won't place you there, you go right ahead and take out another hit on Shepard."

The unnamed man nervously wrung his hands. Saracino sat with his arms folded across his chest, but his face full of fear. Giovanna said nothing, her eyes hurt and scared.

Anderson punched the door panel and left along with Hannah. He quickly replaced his pistol into his boot and then moved quickly down the hall. Hannah increased her pace to catch up with him.

"So, do we go back to Udina?"

"He wouldn't listen," Anderson said. "We still have very little to go on."

"But they're guilty. What if they…"

"Stop, Commander."

Hannah paused, Anderson having halted back outside the store. He flicked on his omni-tool and tapped furiously. Hannah unexpectedly heard voices in her ear.

"…didn't even know you were behind the attempt to kill the turian ambassador, Alex," she heard Saracino.

"It didn't go off. There was no reason to tell you. And it was so long ago, I thought it had all been forgotten. Curse that whore!"

"Forget Arcturus," Giovanna's voice interjected. "What about now? What about Shepard?"

"I'm calling it off," Saracino proclaimed decisively.

"What?" Alex cried out. "After all our work?"

"They have too many witnesses. Jules will be on their side now."

"The mother says the batarian contacted them, too," Giovanna informed him.

Saracino cursed aloud, then mumbled, "At least no one will believe her."

"Why did we hire her anyway?" Alex asked. "We should have known we couldn't trust a batarian to get the job done."

"We had to get a batarian," Saracino defended the plan. "How else would we get a war?" Discouragement colored his voice.

Giovanna next spoke, her voice gentle. "It was a good plan, Charles. It really was. The Alliance would have declared war if their human Spectre had been martyred by a batarian."

"It was a good plan," Saracino muttered. "Now it's all been shot to hell. Khar'shan is still a threat to humanity. If this had gone off, we'd be at war and Terra Firma would get the credit for exposing the batarian who killed Shepard. We'd get more control of the Parliament. Now what do we have?"

"We could still hire someone else. We could…" Alex spoke, desperately trying to save the plan.

"No," Saracino declared firmly. "I know Anderson. He's a pit bull. He's got me and he knows he does."

"Take him out then," Alex said.

"I said no!" Saracino suddenly yelled. "They'll be watching us now. Are you going to follow orders or not?"

"Alright, alright. I got it."

"It was a long shot anyway," Saracino admitted.

"I'm kind of glad it's over," Giovanna said quietly.

"Vannie…" Saracino said, his voice mirroring the soft way she spoke.

"It put you in danger. I can't lose you, Charles. I love you."

"It's alright. You did good, girl." Hannah heard the sound of a kiss.

"Want to go back to your apartment?" Giovanna suggested coquettishly.

"Yeah," Saracino answered.

"Oh, fine. Leave me by myself after all this has blown up in our faces," Alex grumbled.

"Go drink with your asari, Alex. That always makes you feel better."

There was the sound of a door opening and shutting. Anderson gestured to the store and he and Hannah entered, keeping out of sight. Soon Saracino and Giovanna walked by, holding hands. Hannah growled.

"Easy, mother bear," Anderson said gently.

"Them in love. It's just sick," Hannah snarled. "They plan for Jane to die, to involve the Alliance in a war, and then they pleasure themselves with love. It's so wrong."

"Even our enemies have hearts," Anderson asserted.

"It'd be easier if they didn't," Hannah grumbled.

"Perhaps it would."

Hannah eyed Anderson. "You carry bugs around with you wherever you go?"

Anderson smiled. "No. It wasn't for them, but I couldn't pass the opportunity by."

Hannah tilted her head. "Udina?" Her mouth grew wide with a smile.

"He's gotten more paranoid by the day. I can't trust him and I want to know what he's up to, not just hear it from his mouth."

"You are a pit bill, aren't you?"

"Guilty as charged and proud of it," Anderson said, puffing out his chest.

"So," Hannah said, looking back out into the hall and not seeing Saracino and Giovanna anywhere. "Is Jane safe?"

"Most likely. Look, I have a lot of friends here on the Citadel. I'll keep an eye on Terra Firma here, especially on Saracino and his lot. But Saracino is at heart a coward. He's a politician who loves his prestige and his money. He won't endanger either. This plan, it was his one 'brilliant' idea and it's been foiled. I don't think he'll recover anytime soon."

Hannah sighed. "So Jane's been saved and I didn't even have to kill anyone. At least, not anyone who plotted against her."

Anderson raised his eyebrows.

Hannah explained. "We had a run in with the Blue Suns on Omega. They came after Keta."

"Ah. So why are you disappointed this ended the way it did?"

"I guess I imagined this mission ending with my hands around the throat of the person after my daughter, wringing the life out of him." Hannah paused. "Is it wrong to wish that had happened?"

Anderson shrugged. "Who's to say? A parent will do most anything to protect a child. Death would assure Jane will suffer no danger from them in the future. In this case, you'll have to content yourself with my word. I won't let them go after Shepard again."

Hannah contemplated David Anderson. He was resourceful, savvy, resolute. She nodded. She knew she could trust him to keep his promise.

"Now, how about a drink on me?"

"Okay. But then I need to get back to my ship."

"This way, Commander."

Hannah raised her glass, clinking it against Anderson's. They both sipped their wine, an old vintage imported from earth with a robust flavor. Hannah drew in a breath. Anderson had taken her to a small bar in the Presidium that offered a view of its lake. Hannah stared up at the artificial sky, almost convinced it was real. She felt tired. She wanted to go back to Arcturus, report to Steven and be done with this whole affair. She wondered if she could regain some kind of peace back on the Kilimanjaro through cathartic and familiar work.

"You need a rest," Anderson advised.

Hannah looked to the man rolling his wine glass between his hands. She nodded in agreement. "You, too, Captain?"

"Call me David."

"Alright. David."

"I've been restless. To be honest, retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm used to action, not sitting around with nothing to do. Now that you've come, I've at least got a focus, keeping watch on our mutual 'friends.'" His eyes danced and Hannah chuckled.

"You really do like Jane, don't you?" she asked, probing the nature of her daughter's relationship with her former captain.

"She's impressive. She gets the job done, with success and finesse. She's got the persistence essential for the military. But she also has a heart. People are attracted to her because she cares about them. They give their loyalty to her easily."

Hannah smiled softly. Her mother's heart beamed with pride to hear Jane described in such glowing terms. "She has her dad to thank for that, I think."

"And her mother, I'm sure."

Hannah breathed out slowly. "I hope that's true."

Anderson abruptly leaned across the table. "The truth is, Commander, your daughter's in the middle of a critical mission. She's using all her skills on this one and she needs them all." Hannah's heartbeat quickened. "She's involved in something deep. But if there's one person in this entire galaxy who can get through it, it's her. I know she's going to succeed where I failed."

All of a sudden, Hannah was desperate to contact Jane, to know she was alright. What was she doing right now? What monsters could she be facing? Hannah had discovered the worst thing about being a mother: not being able to hold your chicks in the nest indefinitely, keeping them under your wings and protecting them from the real world.

"She'll be alright. I know it," Anderson reiterated and sat back in his chair, sipping from his wine glass.

Hannah took another sip from hers. "You failed?" she questioned.

Anderson smiled sadly. "I was almost the first human Spectre."

"Really?"

Anderson nodded. "It didn't work out." He said nothing more, just drank silently. Hannah perceived the same difficult past she'd sensed when she'd first met David Anderson on Arcturus Station. She felt the same sympathy for a man who'd seen hard times and been left to pick up the pieces of his life.

"Spectre or not, you're a good man, David. A very good man…And I do know Jane is safe in your protection."

"So, you don't mind that I act like a father bear?"

Hannah grinned. At first, she'd wondered if Anderson loved her daughter. Perhaps he did, but not in the way she'd thought. He didn't love her romantically; he cared for her like his own child.

"I don't mind. In fact, that assures me more than anything else that you'll be on her side no matter what."

Anderson nodded and raised his glass. "To Shepard."

Hannah copied his movement. "To Jane." She stared into Anderson's eyes as they both drank their toast. Daniel, Hannah said inside, I hope you don't mind, but I think Jane's found a substitute dad. She's in good hands, I promise.