Chapter 7: Get a haircut and a real job

-Citadel, Matriarch Terriana's offices

Rolus sat and watched the matriarch as she slowly paced the floor in front of him. He knew she was inwardly fuming, but decided against trying to console her. She rarely responded to comforting words, and the truth was, he was a little afraid anyway. He wouldn't necessarily call her unstable, but she certainly was not one to be trifled with. It would be better to just let her walk herself to exhaustion, and wait until she was ready to discuss it.

The matriarch had just gotten done speaking with the human ambassador, and she was clearly in no mood, so he just watched her. He had known the woman his whole life, and had worked for her since the time her mother had passed. It was a good life, but sometimes he had to weather the 'Terriana Storms', and this was one of those times.

After two hours, she finally exhausted herself and sat down on a couch near her advisor.

"All finished then?" he asked.

She just looked at him.

"You shouldn't have been so hard on the ambassador. After all, the humans did come through." He decided to test her a little.

"They are filthy creatures and if I never see one again it will be too soon."

"You don't mean that. "

"I do."

"Fine." He waved a hand dismissively. "We will be returning to Thessia tomorrow morning."

"I do hope that you have hired better security this time around."

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Now hear me out, before you start pacing again. We should hire that human mercenary. I think that soldier called her Danger or something."

"Excuse me? You have clearly lost your mind if you think for one second I would consider allowing that repulsive beast anywhere near me again." She hugged herself and tried to visibly shudder, but her mind involuntarily returned to the brief moments she was in the human's arms, when she feigned unconsciousness so that the creature wouldn't see what was in her eyes.

"Oh stop it. You are being ridiculous. It's clear that mercenary is a highly skilled and dangerous operative, and you need a bodyguard now that word is getting out that you are being prepped for a council seat."

"I'm sure there is a suitable turian or krogan available for the job. Perhaps I will contact Benezia and accept those commandos."

"Now I know you don't mean that. Listen, that human came back into the building to save me, and I can't forget something like that." He rubbed his now healing leg thoughtfully. "I wouldn't even be here to advise you if it hadn't been for her and her soldier friend. You didn't even thank the ambassador for sending someone after you. It was clear the turians and the salarians were going to just leave you to your fate."

She thought about that. The asari were the first race to reach the citadel, and by all accounts were the most developed and advanced of all of the currently known races, but that didn't mean they would always be on top. While she didn't think that the others would actively move against her people, it was possible that the wheels of bureaucracy might turn just a little bit slower than usual when it came to dealing with her and her kind. The asari councilor would have, of course, pushed to get her rescued, but if the turian and salarian joined forces to block a measure...

"Maybe they did just leave me to my fate, but that doesn't mean I need to run straight into the arms of a human over it."

The turian cocked his head to the side at her comment, looking at her quizzically, and she immediately regretted her choice of words.

"What I mean is there's no need to go hiring one of them."

"I'm not telling you to hire one of them, I'm telling you to hire Danger. You need a bodyguard, and mercenaries always need work. Hire her on as head of security, and if it doesn't work out we can always get someone else. "

The matriarch sat back and closed her eyes. This was ridiculous. He was right. She did need a bodyguard, and the human was at least moderately skilled. She wouldn't be able to get the soldier – Shepard was her name. Soldiers didn't do security work until they retired and Shepard had a long way to go before that happened. She could either hire the mercenary, or take her chances with another inexperienced guard just looking for quick creds. Surely she could contain herself around one human.

"Rolus, please contact Ambassador Udina and tell him I wish for one last meeting before we depart."

"Of course. I'll make the arrangements right away." He tried his very best not to grin.

-Citadel, The Flux

Danger was sitting at the bar, nursing some sort of blue liquid the bartender had poured for her. It didn't taste particularly bad; she just wasn't really sure what it was and didn't feel much like celebrating anyway. Despite her screw ups on her last job, the Alliance had come through and paid her what was agreed and a bonus for delivering the package unharmed. It was certainly a cause for celebration. The Alliance had paid her a very healthy sum of creds.

The package. Hmph. She wasn't a package. She was... something else.

The money was more than enough to retire on and enjoy the rest of her days tinkering with cars and nights in the clubs around Omega. She'd already booked passage on a transport shuttle headed there, and was looking forward to introducing herself to the queen of the underworld. Danger leaned back on her stool and stretched her back. It still ached from the bounce and subsequent landings back at the Last Corsair's compound, but the doctors had assured her that there was no permanent damage. She was lucky. That turian was heavy as hell, and landed right on top of her as they rolled off the crumbling floor.

"How would you like a job?"

Danger looked around for the source of the voice and noticed that Matriarch Terriana's assistant had slipped into a stool on her left. Speak of the devil…

"I'm retired."

"You are too young to retire."

"How did you find me?"

"Oh, the ambassador set Captain Anderson on it, and from there it wasn't hard. He's going to be chatting with you eventually about how important this is to the Alliance and all that I'm sure, but I wanted to get to you first and just ask you."

"Ask me what?"

"Do you want a job?"

"I'm retired."

"So you keep saying. I'll be blunt with you. You are one of the best I've seen. It's no wonder that soldier hangs around with you – the two of you are devastating on any obstacle you come across. What you two accomplished on that compound would have taken an army of any other race. The matriarch is starting to gain enemies, and she needs a skilled bodyguard. We'd love to hire you both, but we don't expect your soldier friend is available."

"She hates me."

"Your friend?"

"No, the matriarch." Danger scrunched her face up and considered for a minute. "Actually, Jane probably hates me too. I get that a lot. It doesn't matter. Your boss can't stand me." She took another sip of the mystery liquid.

Rolus looked at the human's face for any clue as to what the woman was thinking, but Danger was a mask. He had no idea what was going on in her head.

"She's a matriarch." He shrugged, as if that explained everything. "Listen, I know what's good for her and we need better security. If all goes well escorting her back to Thessia, there will be a permanent position waiting for you. It's a very prestigious job, and it pays well."

"I'm retired."

"Third time's a charm. If you change your mind, we will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. If you show up, great. If not, enjoy your retirement."

Rolus got up and left the bar, and Danger turned back to her drink. She twisted the glass twice, and then pushed it away. There was a group of asari that looked disappointed, as Danger usually had a few drinks and then hit the dance floor, but she barely noticed. Instead, she turned around on the stool, walked out of the bar, and went to find the captain.

-Citadel, Human Embassy

"I'm not an Alliance soldier, and you don't give me orders. I go where I please, when I please." She crossed her arms and glared at the men across the room. Danger was meeting with the ambassador and captain in the Embassy offices, and the two men were exchanging glances and wondering how to contain the furious mercenary. "You have no right to offer me up as if I'm one of your little chess pieces. I'm not a good little soldier like Jane Shepard."

"Calm down, Danger." Captain Anderson walked over and laid a soothing hand on the woman's shoulder. "We didn't make any guarantees. It's still your choice."

Ambassador Udina brought his fist down on the table. "It's still your choice, but it would be very good for inter-species relations if you were to accept the position and be the matriarch's bodyguard."

Danger looked at the ambassador, and saw the devious political wheels turning in his head. He wanted something, and he wanted to use Danger to get it.

"I'm retired. Why does she want me anyway?"

"She wouldn't say," the captain replied. "All we know is that she is leaving for Thessia tomorrow, and she requested you. The ambassador explained, of course, that you are a freelance and not technically a part of the Alliance, but it is our hope that you will at least consider what this will mean for the human race."

Danger sank into a nearby couch.

This must be what Jane goes through every day of her life. How does she deal with it?

It was too much. She needed to get out of there. She wasn't going to play ball with the Alliance, not again. She had already done more than her fair share of 'favors' for the military, and it was high time she started thinking a little more about herself.

"I'm retired. That's final."

Danger stalked out of the Embassy, and went straight to her safe house. She looked around at the small apartment that held nothing but some datapads, some clothes, and tools. It wasn't much, but when she was on the Citadel, she called it home. Slowly, she started packing.

My transport leaves in an hour. I'd better hurry.

She packed more slowly.

Omega, here I come! I hope you are ready for me.

She had to unpack her clothes now because the tools needed to be on the bottom. She couldn't have her tools on the top.

These tools are filthy. I can't pack these.

She started polishing the various wrenches, drivers, and ratchets.

There. That's better.

It was now ten minutes until the transport was scheduled to depart.

I'd actually better make sure I didn't leave anything in the CamMech 3 before she gets dropped back off at my garages on Earth. I'll come back to finish packing.

The transport left, without Danger on it.

Well. I can always catch the next one...

-Citadel, Docking level

The next day, Danger was sitting cross legged on a flight strip as Rolus and Matriarch Terriana stepped out of their transport vehicle.

"Rolus, she's sitting in the middle of a flight strip."

"I can see that, Terriana."

"Why is she in the middle of a flight strip?"

"I don't know. Wishful thinking?" Rolus left the matriarch to ponder what he meant and headed to where Danger sat.

"Changed your mind?"

"I'll escort her to Thessia, but then I'm officially retired."

"Fair enough." The turian smiled. He offered her a hand and helped her to her feet.

"Welcome aboard, Danger."

"Yea yea well don't get used to me. This is a temporary position. This is the last job ever and then I'm retiring. As soon as we get to Thessia I'm booking a transport to Omega."

Danger walked over to the matriarch, nodded once, and then proceeded to grab her things and load them onto the transport ship. They boarded the vessel, and Danger took up a position near the back of the aircraft, with a clear view of the asari.

For security. Not because I want to look at her.

Danger leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, leaned her left elbow on the armrest, and rested her forehead in her hand.

This is going to be the hardest job of my life. Get off this transport now, you idiot. Get off now.

But Danger didn't move, and the aircraft took off. Soon they were hopping a relay to take them into asari space, and for the first time in her life Danger wondered what it would be like to have a steady job.