Chapter 2
The First Mission
"C'mon, tell me!" Jan'Ce pleaded as they walked to the Lair.
"It's none of your business." Finn told her. While her own age was something the crew of the Ulasomorf had guessed at, Jan often acted like she was only sixteen. "If you're really curious, then I suggest asking Kyra herself."
Kyra pouted as we waited for the Lair's scanners to pass over them "Fine. I will."
The chamber doors opened, revealing the room Finn often referred to as the Shadow Broker's Lair. Liara had expressed her dislike of the nickname, but it spread quickly through Finn's crew. The circular room was filled with glowing consoles, some embedded in the walls and others just holographic projections. In the center of the room was a single chair, designed to allow her to quickly access a number of nearby consoles. Seeing her hard at work brought mental images of stereotypical mad scientists to Finn's mind, though he never dared say such a thing.
It wasn't that Liara was intimidating, because she wasn't; she had a kind face, and after seeing her interact with her daughters and Javik, Finn couldn't think of her as anything other than a kindly mother. That's exactly why he wouldn't dare say anything hurtful; she reminded him of his own long-departed mother.
She wasn't alone; a small quadruped robot was sitting on a console beside her. The circular monitor that served as its face displayed a cartoonish face that vaguely resembled that of a dog. It wasn't just a machine, however; the KEI-9 unit was Finn's best friend in the entire galaxy, Jake. The two of them had been together since running into each other on Earth during Finn's academy days. The young Finn needed a friend just as much as the abandoned KEI-9 Unit, and in a matter of weeks, the two had become inseparable.
"Hey man!" Jake said, hopping off of the console beside Liara's chair and trotting over to Finn. "How'd training go?"
"About as well as last time." He rubbed the top of Jake's monitor. "What've you been up to, bro?"
"Talking with Liara?" Finn glanced at Liara. "We have a mission?"
"If you feel ready for it, of course." Liara said, a kind smile on her face.
"Yeah, sure! Er, I mean, yes ma'am."
Chuckling, Liara said, "It's okay, Finn. I think you've earned the right to let formalities slide. After all, you helped me take back the Normandy."
"I'm glad I could help." Finn told her. Truthfully, he felt he owed her far more for rescuing him from the Citadel jail, but it didn't seem the polite thing to say. "So, what's the mission?"
"One of my agents is requesting immediate pickup on Ilium."
Finn raised an eyebrow at the asari Matron. "That's it?"
Seeing her brow furrow, he quickly added, "Don't get me wrong; I'm sure it's important and all. I was just expecting something a little more … I dunno, dangerous."
"Have you ever been to Ilium?" Liara asked curiously.
"Nope. I was considering going there when I ran into Darsan and got the posting on J-27. I've heard the rumors of course; people signing themselves into indentured servitude, people assassinated for bumping in to the wrong person."
"Well, it's pretty much as bad as you heard. Garrus always said that Ilium was just Omega with a pretty face, something I learned quite well back when I lived there. Be on your guard."
Finn nodded respectfully. "Anything I need to know about the agent?"
Liara tapped at her controls for a few moments. An image of a female drell appeared in mid-air. Her scales were red, those around her throat nearly as dark as blood. Coupled with her dark eyes and slender, athletic build, she had a definite look of danger about her.
"Hylia Krios." Liara told them. "I've worked with her family for years; great agents … and good friends. She's been researching some of the Cerberus base locations Billy showed us."
"Find anything interesting?" Jan'Ce asked curiously.
"I'd imagine so, seeing as she's wanting extraction." Glancing at Finn, Liara said, "She requested you by name."
"Me?" Finn said, surprised. "Have I met her?"
"No, but I've learned to trust the Krios's instincts over the years. If she wants you, she must have a good reason."
Shrugging, Finn said, "Fair enough. I'll grab the others and head out."
Liara bowed her head. "Thank you. Let me know immediately if anything out of the ordinary happens."
"Can do!" Jake the robot dog said, giving her a salute with one paw.
As Finn, Jake, and Jan headed to the door, Liara called out, "I'm sorry, Jan'Ce, but I need you to stay here."
Jan turned around, a hurt look on her face. "But they might need me! They aren't familiar with the security codes or-"
"I have another assignment for you. One that requires your unique abilities."
Pouting, Jan turned to Finn and said, "I guess I'll see you later, Finn. Bye Jake!"
"Bye Jan!" Jake told her as the doors to the Lair began to slide shut. Once they were secure, he shook his head. "Bright girl, but she acts like she just got out of high school."
Finn shrugged. "She's just excited. Besides, we'd probably be mopping the bathrooms back at the Anderson Naval Academy if she hadn't saved our bacon."
"Heh. Fair enough." Jake laughed for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Hey, bro … can I ask you something kinda weird?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"Well … have we met Liara somewhere? Before recently, I mean."
Finn considered it for a moment. "I don't think so. Maybe we bumped into her on Neukaara or Omega?"
"I dunno, but I get the feeling I know her … Javik too, though not as much as Liara. It's creepy."
Asari were everywhere in the galaxy; their influence was undeniable. Finn had met quite a few in his travels, but the only asari he spent any significant amount of time around was Aria, the self-styled Queen of Omega, and Liara was definitely not her.
"If not Neukaraa or Omega, I can't imagine where." Finn said. "I think we'd remember if someone like her showed up on J-27."
Jake chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. C'mon! I'll race ya to the Ulasomorf!"
The Ulasomorf was in the Amonjana's repair bay. A complicated conglomeration of design and technology from across the galaxy, she was a ship like no other. In terms of technical details, she was as impressive in her own right as the other ship in the repair bay, the Normandy SR-2.
Physically, the two ships couldn't be much more different; the Normandy was a sleek Alliance frigate, whereas the Ulasomorf was a bit on the bulky side due to it originally being a salvage vessel. The Ulasomorf was actually a little bigger, though this could be attributed to the mish-mash of designs used in its construction. Of course, the Normandy had the advantage in terms of appearance; it looked like a warship, whereas the Ulasomorf looked like …
"Like a big shoe." Finn said aloud.
Jake chuckled. "I told you."
"Yes, and now I can't not see it." Finn sighed, adding, "Still, it's my shoe … ship."
Finn's slip made Jake laugh all the harder.
They entered the ship through the shuttle bay door. At the moment, the only two vehicles in the Ulasomorf's shuttle bay were a battered old pickup truck and the Gradisian.
Two cybernetically augmented humans were currently working on the Gradisian. Well, they were hypothetically working on the Gradisian; they carried tools, and several of the quarian fighter's access panels had been removed. At the moment, however, the two engineers seemed to be arguing.
"You're dreaming!" said the small woman with the cybernetic legs, who was currently sitting on the Gradisian's tail. "The Rangers don't have a chance!"
"The Rangers have Janus Creede." Replied the bear of a man with the cybernetic arm. "Did you see him last season, Katt? The guy's Hall of Fame material, and he's only been out of college for a year."
The woman named Katt snorted. "Sure, but he's one guy; the Knights have a full team of great players. Mschens, Windstar, Myssohn …" Her eyes caught Finn and Jake. "Finn!"
"Finn?" the man asked incredulously before turning to see their approach. "Oh, I thought -"
"Thought I abandoned my noble quest to play on the circuit, Sarge?" Finn asked, grinning. "Not quite. How are the upgrades going?"
Katt hopped off of the wing and hit the ground easily, her artificial legs absorbing the impact without a problem. "So far, so good. I wouldn't say she's ready to take on Billy just yet, but she's getting there. What's up?"
"We've got a mission." Finn told them. "Liara wants us to go pick up an agent on Ilium."
"Ooh! I've never been to Ilium before." Katt rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Think Liara would mind if we tag along?"
"Yes." Rico told her flatly. "We've still got a lot of work to do on the Normandy."
Katt pouted at him, visibly disappointed.
Sighing, Rico pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. "After we finish the upgrades on the Normandy, I'll ask if we can have a little time off."
Squeeing, Katt kissed the tip of Rico's nose before slipping out of his grasp and skipping away towards the Normandy.
Jake chuckled. "Ah, wedded bliss."
Patting his old friend on the shoulder, Finn commented, "She certainly seems eager for a vacation."
"She's eager to exercise our savings in Ilium's marketplace." Sighing, he said, "In any case, the Gradisian's good to fly, though I'd hold off on using the weapon systems just yet. We're still having trouble balancing the power grid."
"Won't be necessary." Finn told him, pointing to the open cargo door, where the sleek black form of Billy was being guided into the Ulasomorf by Kyra. She gave them a wave with her free hand, the other holding the tractor beam emitter that was moving the experimental fighter.
As Finn waved back, Rico commented, "Glad to see you two stopped fighting. Of course, I guess that means you're the one who'll have to watch his credits on Ilium now."
Finn opened his mouth to reply, but Rico was already hurrying after his wife.
"A shame Liara snapped them up for service on the Normandy, huh?" Jake said, tail end wagging. "I kinda liked having them around again."
"The Normandy needs a lot of work." Finn said, although in truth he felt the same way. "Maybe when they get her upgraded she'll let Katt and Rico join our team."
They both glanced at Billy as Kyra set him down on the cargo bay floor. Shouldering the tractor beam emitter, Kyra approached the two of them with a cheery smile on her face.
"Hi, sweetie." She said before kissing Finn on the cheek. Kneeling down beside Jake, she rubbed the top of the KEI-9 unit's monitor. The cartoon dog face on the monitor let out a happy sigh.
"You ready to head out?" Kyra asked, her grease-covered fingers intertwined with Finn's.
"You're coming with us?"
"Of course. Someone's got to make sure you don't attract too much trouble." She gave him a playful bop on the arm. "Besides, I've been looking for an excuse to field-test the upgrades to the Ulasomorf."
"Shakedown cruise, huh?" Said Finn. "Fair enough. We'll head out as soon as-"
"Excited; Finn!"
Finn glanced at the cargo bay ramp in time to see the rest of the team walking aboard, led by Darsan in a khaki-colored fedora. While not quite as ostentatious as his usual headwear, the brown suit coupled with the tan trenchcoat made him look as though he were about to audition for a part in an old detective movie.
"Delighted; Ah, Finn! I just heard we're getting our first official assignment!"
"Yep. Gotta go pick up one of Liara's agents on Ilium."
"Pickup duty?" Eri snorted. "And here I thought it might be something big."
Mannon gave Eri an odd look. Despite having cut ties with the Alliance, she still wore her Alliance jacket tied around her waist. "You're kidding, right? Given everything that's happened, I'm glad we're starting on something small."
They both stopped as Xyn moved between them, seemingly gliding along the floor with effortless ease.
She placed her delicate-looking hands over both of theirs. "The good lady Liara has asked for our assistance, so surely our task is not a trivial one."
"Er, yes." Eri said, bowing his head. Turians didn't blush (at least not in any way most species would recognize), but Finn had come to notice certain little tells in the turian's face, particularly when Xyn was around.
Mannon, on the other hand, jerked her hand back as though Xyn's touch burned her. A noticeable sadness crossed Xyn's face, but she said no more. As she moved closer to Eri, Finn couldn't help but notice that the turian was now holding her hand.
His friends gathered around him, looking expectant. Finn had come to recognize this as a sign that they expected a speech of some sort. Unfortunately, he never was one for speeches.
Clearing his throat, Finn said, "Well, I think that's everyone. You all ready to get this mission started?"
His crew let out a rousing cheer that lifted Finn's spirits immensely.
"All right!" He said, clapping his hands. "Everyone to their stations! We'll be heading out in ten minutes!"
"Come on, Jake." Finn said, rubbing his friend's head. "Let's get to the bridge."
"You got it, bro!"