Chapter 4

Target of Opportunity

"I'm telling you, I don't know how it got there!" Finn insisted.

Miirian shook her head and said, "If I had a credit every time I heard that, I'd be a rich woman."

After the discovery of the Tear of the Creator, he and the others had been quickly escorted to the nearest security station. The others had been released when it was clear that they weren't involved. As the guy caught with the jewel in his pocket, however, Finn wasn't so lucky. Now he was in a tiny room sitting in an uncomfortable chair across the table from Security Officer Miirian.

"I'm telling you, I didn't steal anything. I didn't even go to the museum! We went straight to the Bowerstone Pub and back. Nowhere else!"

"I know." Miirian told him, crossing her arms. "We reviewed the security footage. You may not have stolen the jewel, but having it in your possession … well, you know what they say; possession is the law."

Raising an eyebrow, Finn asked, "I thought it was 'Possession is nine-tenths of the law'?"

"Not on Ilium." Miirian let out a sigh and leaned over the table. "Look, I'm not stupid; I know you didn't steal the jewel yourself. Just tell us who you're working with, and you'll get a reduced sentence."

Rolling his eyes, Finn said, "I'm not working with anyone! I'm just a maintenance guy."

"Mister Cresste." Miirian said, rubbing her eyes. "We are aware of who you are, you know. I doubt there's a person in the galaxy who hasn't heard about your little stunt with the Council. Since you've never bothered changing your name, we've been able to trace your life all the way back to the Anderson Academy on Earth … everything, including your time on Omega. Will you still claim you're no thief?"

"That was different." Finn insisted. "The Blue Suns are just thugs."

"Thugs with wide connections, many of which are currently keeping an eye out for you. Something about destroying a priceless collection of antique books."

Flushing, Finn said, "They kidnapped my friend."

She walked around the table, saying, "Believe me, Mister Cresste, I've no love of the Blue Suns. Though they'd prefer being called mercenaries, I agree they're little more than a gang of thugs, just the Blood Pack or the Saints, or Ilium's own Eclipse. When I heard you and your friends on Omega robbed them blind, I practically cheered. That's the problem."

She put her hands on the back of Finn's chair and leaned forward to whisper into his ear. "You were the leader. You put a team together, came up with a plan, then infiltrated the Blue Suns most secure hideout and stole a third of their credits. This sort of thing wouldn't be the first time for you, and I've no doubt that you have accomplices. Tell me who they are, and you might get out of prison in time to enjoy your twilight years."

Rolling his eyes, Finn said, "Fine, you got me. I'm working with the Shadow Broker."

She stared at him for a long moment before chuckling and standing up straight. "Tough nut, huh? Well, maybe some time in a cell will convince you we mean business. Take him to Cell 4-A."

Without another word, the security bots hauled Finn to a jail cell. A repulsion force-field hummed to life moments after the bots shoved Finn through the door.

"Hey!" Finn shouted, standing as close to the door to his cell as he could without setting the repulsion field off, "Don't I get a phone call or something?"

The security mechs stomped away, oblivious to his request. Sighing, Finn sat down on the cot that served as the cell's only furniture. The room was essentially a box with a force-field cover. He might have been able to hack the controls from inside the cell, but the security officers had locked out his omni-tool. "Smart move." thought Finn somewhat bitterly.

Part of him was still reeling at his situation; for once, everything had been going according to plan. How did that jewel end up in his pocket? He didn't even know where the Bridgeford Museum was located. Still, he couldn't bring himself to be surprised that they didn't believe him; he supposed the 'I didn't do it' defense wasn't as convincing as the fact that he had the jewel.

He wasn't terribly worried; Liara would surely come to their aid when she learned of their situation. It was the embarrassment that bothered him; his first assignment as an agent of the Shadow Broker, and it had gone to hell. At least his friends had been released, even if it did leave him quite alone.

Of course, there was someone he could still talk to. Sighing, Finn tapped the side of his head and said, "Jake, you there?"

"Right here, buddy. Where are you? They've got a troop of those damn security mechs watching the Ulasomorf like hawks."

"Yeah, about that." Finn said, blushing despite no one was around to see his embarrassment. "I've run into a little problem."

"Problem?"

"They think I'm a thief."

"A thief? Why in the hell would they think you're a thief?"

"Because they found some rare jewel in my pocket."

A moment of silence passed before Jake asked, "You didn't really steal it, right?"

"Of course not!" Finn said indignantly. "I have no idea why I had it!"

"Well, it didn't just appear there."

Finn considered that possibility for a moment, but quickly shook his head. Teleportation technology was extremely unreliable. He thought back to his admittedly limited experience on Ilium; most of it was just walking.

"Hang on." Finn said, snapping his finger. "That girl bumped into me in the Bowerstone Pub."

"So?"

"So if she was a skilled pickpocket, she could've slipped the jewel into my pocket then."

There was another momentary pause from Jake's end. "Okay, so she steals a valuable jewel and then plants it on you to … what? Even if you got it past security, there's no guarantee she'd be able to get unto the Ulasomorf."

"Yes, because our security is so top notch." Sighing, Finn said, "We'd be lucky if Eri and Xyn could slip out of their own little world long enough to notice, and Kyra's too occupied with her work. We're talking a skilled thief here, Jake; she probably had a plan."

The repulsion field sealing him in the cell died with a sudden fizzle. The security mech guarding the door fell to the ground, his rifle hitting the floor and clattering as it bounced off the floor.

Finn started to grab the rifle, but quickly caught himself. "Interesting. My cell door just opened."

"Can you get out?" Jake asked.

"Probably."

"So go already!"

"Go where?" Finn asked. "They're guarding the Ulasomorf. The last thing Liara needs is for my face to be plastered everywhere."

A loud sigh of annoyance was Finn's reply, but it wasn't from his two-way radio with Jake; this voice was feminine and young-sounding.

"Come on!" The voice coaxed. "Don't you want to get back to your ship?"

"Huh? Who are you? Hey, Finn, is someone in there with-"

The transmission cut off abruptly. The intruding voice said, "Ah, that's better. Now, back to what I was asking; do you want to stay in there forever?"

Finn stood and approached his cell door, "Not if I end up dragging half of Ilium's security behind me. What did you do to Jake?"

"Don't get so worked up; I just jammed his frequency so we could enjoy a conversation without interruptions. Oh, don't worry about security. I've scrambled every system in this station."

Crossing his arms, Finn asked, "And why would you do that?"

"Out of the kindness of my heart, of course. Why, if an innocent boy like you had to spend his best years in the big house, I doubt I'd get a moment's rest tonight."

"I'll bet." Finn replied dryly.

Chuckling the voice said, "And if you were to grab the Creator's Tear from the lockup which I've taken the liberty of unlocking, I'd be mighty appreciative. They've stored it in a Gilman Case."

"A what?"

"It's a little electrically sealed box with a built-in homing device. You're looking for the one marked C-32. Don't bother trying to hack it open; I'll show you how to disable the homing beacon once you get it. Just bring it out with you, and I'll take care of the rest."

"Uh-huh." Finn said, glancing around for what his mysterious benefactor was using to spy on him. "And my friends?"

"Oh, don't worry; once the Creator's Tear is in my possession, I'll make sure security knows you and your friends were simply victims of circumstance."

"Or you'll leave us holding the bag."

"It's a possibility. Still, what choice do you have?"

She had a point; it would be days before Liara could respond to the problem, and that put Agent Krios at risk. They needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

Sighing, Finn said, "Fine. You have a deal. Any chance you can unlock my omni-tool?"

"Easy."

Finn's omni-tool flared to life.

"Now get moving!" said his unseen benefactor. "Time's a-wasting."

"Who are you?" Finn asked as he stepped out of his cell.

"Uh-uh. Unlike some people, I don't go blabbling my name everywhere."

"Excuse me?"

"Your ship is still registered under the name Finn Cresste. You're either an idiot, or the concept of keeping a low profile escaped you."

"I'm not a-"

"Guard coming from your right."

Finn quickly hugged the wall. Sure enough, moments later a turian guard ran past the adjoining corridor.

Once the guard was gone, Finn said, "We're in the Terminus Systems. What's it matter if people know who I am?"

"If I was you, I'd be more worried about the people outside the Terminus Systems who know who you are … like the Spectres the Council sent to bring you back for example."

"What?! Why send Spectres after me? They think I'm nuts!"

"Yeah, but the dangerous kind of nuts, the kind that could incite people to panic. Turn right here."

Finn peered down the hallway before turning right, just to be sure. He was out of the cell block now, which meant there were likely to be more security officers kicking around. The idea that he was being hunted didn't sit well, but he shoved it into the back of his mind while he dealt with the more immediate issue of escaping.

"How much further?" Finn whispered.

"Not much. Don't worry about the guards; they're … preoccupied. Third door on your left."

Finn looked at the door she had indicated. It was slightly ajar.

"They leave the lockup room open?" Finn asked curiously.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence from the other end of the line. "Not usually."

Finn listened intently at the door. He could hear two people talking, women from the sound of it.

"Quarian." Finn breathed. Kyra had been teaching him some of her native language; not enough to understand them completely, but enough to catch a few words. The word 'goto' kept popping up; from what little context Finn was able to ascertain, it was the name of something … or someone.

The voices suddenly fell silent. Before Finn could back away, the door was torn open, revealing two quarian women in environmental suits. One of them held a small box, 'C-32' visible on the top.

"Whoa!" Finn said, backing away as they pointed pistols at him. "Easy there! I'm-"

"Cresste!"

Finn turned to see Miirian and a turian security officer staring at him from the end of the corridor, their hands going for their pistols.

"Ah, crap." Finn ducked into the lockup room and quickly shut the door. He quickly activated his Omni-tool and hacked the door lock; it wouldn't hold forever, but it would keep them distracted for a little while.

It wasn't until he heard the filtered sound of someone clearing her throat that Finn remembered the quarians. Turning, he found both of them still pointing their guns at him.

"Wait a minute." said the quarian in the purple suit, sounding amused. "You're Finn Cresste?"

"Ah … yeah." Finn replied, rubbing the back of his head. "You've heard of me?"

The two quarians immediately began arguing in their native language. They were speaking far too quickly for him to keep up, but he managed to catch a few words.

"… with us … trouble … no way."

"He is … could be useful. Besides, Viridia would never forgive …"

Finn glanced back as someone, presumably Miirian and her turian friend, began pounding on the door. "Uh, I don't mean to rush you, ladies, but they're gonna get through that door sooner or later."

The blue quarian seemed to capitulate. With a nod, she hopped up into the open vent.

"Stay close to us." The purple suited quarian told him. "And don't worry; we do this sort of thing all the time."

As she climbed into the vent after her friend, Finn heard his mysterious ally murmur, "My my. Someone's being naughty."

Finn opened his mouth to respond, but she quickly stopped him. "Don't say anything; I don't want them knowing I'm here. Just keep following them for now."

Shaking his head, Finn leapt up and caught the edge of the vent. After a moment of scrambling for a better hold, he pulled himself into the vent and followed after the two quarians.