Downfall

Epilogue: Beyond

Shalta Ward, Citadel – Twelve Hours Later

The package had arrived while Liara was in the Shalta Markets, purchasing the last of the supplies she would need for the journey to Omega. Her small arsenal seemed inadequate to the weapon she had now purchased: a new M3 Predator IX handgun, outfitted with mods for extended thermal capacity and a titanium barrel that refined a shot's accuracy and killing power. She had sold her old weapons to an arsenal dealer in the lower levels of the Wards, at a shady Human-owned establishment that had almost certainly underpaid her for the value of her weapons. She could barely complain – she needed to be selective in what she took and what she didn't. Very few of her belongings had survived the destruction of the Normandy, but she now discarded or sold most that remained. When she returned to her hotel for the final time, she had found the large carbonite carrying case resting on the steel-and-glass table in the main alcove.

The explosive-proof frame made it impossible to determine the contents, yet judging by the size of the case it was likely considerable. It was remarkably high security, requiring her to submit to a retinal and fingerprint scan to determine her identity. Upon confirmation, a short message appeared in front of her.

Liara,

If you have received this, then I have passed on into the next realm of the galactic whole. Before our unfortunate parting of ways, this was made for you by the finest specialists of the Armali Council. It has now been returned to you. Use it well, as I'm sure you will.

Benezia

The case clicked open to reveal an exquisite set of Asari armour. While commandos typically operated in full combat hardsuits, a growing need for mobility had led to the design of sets like that in front of Liara. Tri-weave kevlar was specially mixed with high-density microfiber mesh to create a suit of combat armour that was much more flexible than the hardsuits of typical Asari commandos, allowing for greater comfort and manoeuvrability. The overcoat was gleaming white, with streaks of crystal-blue streaked across the shoulders and inner ribs. It fit her perfectly, betraying the fact that it had been custom-made by Benezia for Liara's use. When the suit's hardware patched into her omnitool, she discovered an entire set of features the cost of which would have been staggering. A built-in augmentation system significantly enhanced the strength of her natural biotic barrier, while projectile software allowed it to recalibrate to repel specific incoming rounds.

We hadn't talked for years, Liara thought to herself, and yet she still had this made for me. Is this just a kind gesture, or is there something more? Why had it arrived now, mere hours before she was set to leave for the Terminus Systems?

"You will never be alone. Not completely"

The words sounded prophetic as Liara admired herself in the scratched and chipped mirror in the room. From afar, she wouldn't look like a combatant; indeed, the suit looked like that of a scientist or explorer, not a hardened commando. Useful or not, it framed her figure well, leaving little to the imagination. She took a liking to it immediately, discarding her old researchers clothes in a large bin marked for the many relief funds established on the Citadel. Anything she couldn't sell, she left to them; someone would surely need it more desperately than she did.

Just before she left, she took one last moment to admire the dark, shadow-soaked view of the Citadel from her room's window. The Widow Nebula sparkled magnificently in front of her, a veil of peace from the world she was about to set foot into. She stared through the window for nearly a minute, committing the sight of the Citadel's outstretched arms to her memory before she walked out the door of her shabby hotel room for the final time. It was a memory she hoped would stay with her for the coming weeks or months.

She did not expect to see such a view for a long time.

Shadow of the Hegemon – Launch Bay F43, Citadel Wards

The Batarian engineer regarded Liara coldly, his four eyes quickly scanning up and down her frame. Liara thought she detected the slightest hint of a glimmer in his eyes as he studied her waist, and found herself shivering in disgust at the thought.

"What are you doing here?" It was a question, but one of incredulity, as if Liara had no reason in the galaxy to be in this specific docking bay. "This is a private docking facility."

"I understand that your upcoming freight run takes you to Bekenstein, Anhur, and Omega." Liara eyed the vast cargo ship behind the engineer. It was of Batarian designed, with various sharp, jagged ridges of metal and containers jutting out from all angles of the ship. Her omnitool was already running a scan of the vessel's internal specs: very little shielding, practically no armour, and engine specs that would have made them easy targets for raiders in the dark reaches of the Terminus Systems. Still, if they would provide her with a route to Omega, that was the best she could hope for.

"The Shadow of the Hegemon is departing for the Terminus Systems. Our exact course is classified." The Batarian frowned, sensing that Liara had more to ask. "What interest do you have in our flight plans?"

"I was hoping to buy passage on your freighter – to Omega."

The engineer eyed her suspiciously. "This is strictly a cargo vessel – we are not in the business of moving passengers across the Terminus Systems."

"I understand," Liara replied. "But I can pay you well for it."

"Money is of no concern to us. Surely you know the profit margins in the Terminus Systems are exponentially higher than those in Citadel Space."

Liara was insistent, "money is no object. I can pay you double what I would for regular transport to Omega."

Two of the Batarian's eyes widened. "Let me talk to the captain." He hurried off to stand next to another Batarian and a Turian, the three of them communicating rapidly in hushed voices. The Turian sported a hefty scar across his right temple, obscuring a set of colony markings that Liara didn't recognize. The second Batarian was missing an eye, and was wearing armour with a staggering number of gashes, tears, and scrapes across the rusted chest. Whoever these pilots are, they've been through a lot. Her gut sank at the prospect of what they may encounter if these markings were an indicator: pirates, cartels, Hegemony military forces, slavers, or even worse.

But you have to do this, she thought to herself. Any other way of getting to Omega will mean stopping on Anhur or Invictus. Neither of those alternatives seemed pleasing, certainly not when the kidnapping rate on Invictus was said to have increased five-fold in the past two months in the face of an escalating gang war.

She shot back to attentiveness as the Turian pilot approached. She could see now that his left mandible had been severed, contributing to even more scarring than she had previously thought. His hardened and bronzed skin betrayed no hint of emotion as he looked Liara up and down. Something about his stare caused her to shiver as his eyes came to rest on her waste. "My engineer tells me you want to buy passage with us, and that you're offering double the conventional transport rate."

Liara nodded, "in exchange for discretion and solitude, yes."

The Turian stroked the scar where his mandible should have been. "I'd be willing to give you passage on our ship," he paused as he considered the offer, "for triple. Thirty-five thousand credits."

Liara blinked at the thought. It was a staggering sum to consider for passage through the Terminus Systems, even when one factored in the security premium paid to anyone who moved civilians through the Terminus Systems. She was captive to their demands for money, and they both knew it.

Reluctantly, Liara tapped her omnitool to empty the funds into the Turian's account. "Very well. Thirty-five thousand credits."

"Excellent," the Turian captain replied. "We depart in an hour, so you should probably get on board soon. And who am I taking on as additional cargo?"

"No names," Liara said quickly. "I'm paying you for discretion."

"Are you now?" the Turian regarded her coldly. "Well that will be another five thousand credits then."

"You've got to be kidding me," Liara exclaimed loudly. "I thought I was paying for discretion!"

"You are," the Turian replied sharply. "Your previous payment means I don't tell anyone that you're on board my vessel. It doesn't mean I don't get to know who you are. Anonymity will be five thousand credits."

Exasperated, Liara gritted her teeth as she transferred the second sum into the Turian's account. The captain nodded with approval, and then gestured to the cavernous cargo-doors behind him. "Follow me onto the ship; we leave in one hour."

Liara stepped hesitantly onto the lowered cargo door, glancing at the shipping containers being loaded onto the Shadow as the captain led her into the lower levels. "The cargo is not to be investigated," the Turian noted, "or touched, or hacked. We have full surveillance software in place on the cargo level. If you so much as look at the contents, you'll be dropped at the next port, regardless of how close we are to Omega."

The captain led her into one of the ship's bulky corridors, with Liara drawing looks from two Batarian crewmen carrying crates of supplies to the cargo bay. The bulkheads swung out in odd locations, forcing Liara and the Turian to weave in and out of overlapping outcroppings of durasteel.

"How long is the voyage to Omega?"

"Stops on Bekenstein, Anhur, and Illium range from twelve to twenty standard hours; all told, the voyage will take just under a Human week. That's assuming we don't encounter pirates, mercenaries, or stumble on a cartel war."

"Does that happen often?"

"Where the fuck do you think you're going? This isn't Thessia anymore; this is the Terminus Systems. A former colleague of mine jumped out of FTL right in the middle of a firefight near Invictus. Entire system is being torn apart. Ship lasted less than two minutes. Of course it fucking happens often."

Liara breathed heavily as they rounded a corner, the Turian leading her through a narrow passage with small doors on either side. Each led to a miniscule chamber with a single safe and a narrow mattress. He led her to the last door on the right.

"These are your quarters."

Less than a third the size of her initial lab quarters on the Normandy, calling it a cubicle would have been glamorous. Rust lined the walls, punctuated only by the rough outline of what had once been a safe. The mattress on the floor was covered in stains, and looked flimsier than the Council's continued denials of the existence of the Reapers. She reckoned it would be difficult to stretch herself out fully in the cramped storage locker, and the wiring around the hallway suggested she would be close to the din of the engines and drive core.

"Button on the right locks the room to anyone on the outside, though I have authorization codes to open all the doors on this ship. Meals are served every twelve hours – dextro on the upper deck, standard on the middeck."

"And what codes do I need to move around?"

"The first time you touch it, the button on your door will auto-key to your fingerprint. I will complete authorization of where you can and can't go later."

The Turian turned to depart, leaving Liara to ponder her fate on this dank, cramped, and disheveled freighter. She lifted her finger to the button on the inside of the tiny room, and saw the glow change from red to green. The door sealed in front of her, rendering her completely enclosed in the narrow space.

This isn't a cabin, it's a prison cell, she thought to herself, or it may as well be. Arching her back against the wall, she slowly settled herself into a sitting position, the small mattress barely providing any comfort against the hard floor. The overhead light flickered on and off, cloaking the room alternately in shadows and darkness and throwing off Liara's sense of time.

She tried every conceivable configuration on the floor to try and get to sleep, yet it never came. Everywhere she lay the harsh steel of the floor cut into her, making her bones ache and her muscles cry out for comfort. Fully an hour passed, before her nearly successful attempt was thrown off by the jostling force of the freighter's engines igniting. Either the Turian pilot was not particularly good, or the ship's handling was appalling: every wiggle of the throttle was greeted with a lurch that caused her stomach to drop. The noise of the engines was horrific – a loud, high-pitched grinding that sounded like razorwire being ground against durasteel. I will go mad in here, was all she could think.

When she finally did fall asleep three hours later, it was with her mind swimming, her thoughts praying to whatever goddess existed that she would reach Omega in one piece.

Torus Towers, Citadel Financial District

Barla Von never allowed anyone to interrupt his private meetings with high-profile clients. Even the most important business of the Shadow Broker would not interfere with his manipulation of financial instruments for clients willing to pay sums in the millions of credits for his work. This one had been an executive of a leading Salarian technology firm, himself seeking to short investments on a large Salarian colonization project. Von suspected heavy insider trading, yet was more than willing to pocket the large fee, filing the information and identity away for future reports to the Broker.

The knock at his door had annoyed him, and the first time he simply ignored it. Yet then the anonymous knock happened a second time. He talked louder, trying to indicate to the outside world that he was involved. Then a third time. At long last, the Volus banker lost his patience. Apologizing to his Salarian client, he called out loudly to whoever was on the other side of the door.

"I am currently engaged with a client. Come back and pester me later!"

"This is urgent!" The voice sounded Human, judging by the accent. The translation software on his omnitool indicated the same.

"So is my business with clients. Go away!"

"This is more urgent: it's about the Inop Investment Fund. Urgent action is needed!"

Barla Von's eyes peaked up at the sound of his Information Broker designation, and they began to dart back and forth very quickly inside of his atmospheric suit. He turned to the Salarian client, who was beginning to look extremely exasperated. "I am terribly sorry, but this stranger refers to a very large investment portfolio that requires my immediate attention. I really must attend to this – certainly a businessman of your stature will understand."

The Salarian nodded, albeit not convincingly. "I will forward you the final details." His client quickly moved through the door, while Barla Von was already keying in the code sequence that would bring up his Broker terminals. No sooner had the Salarian departed then a tall, frail human male walked through the door. He was dressed in an exquisitely-cut eastern-style suit, and was sporting several days' growth of unkempt beard that served to accentuate his bright blue eyes. The door locked behind this new customer just as Barla Von's terminals came up.

"Direct contact by an intermediary is rare, earth clan – you wouldn't come here unless it was urgent."

The human seemed unnerved by the sharp and ragged breaths that punctuated Barla Von's speech. He silently handed the Volus a datapad containing four names, each of which caused Von's eyes to widen more than the last, and a contact to forward the information to when completed. "The Broker is wary of interference. A large operation is underway; these four names have the potential to interfere. Within the last twenty hours all were seen on the Citadel. Ascertain their locations and relay them to your superior."

Barla Von surveyed the list. "I see…and what would the priority level on this collection assignment be?"

The Human was almost out the door by the time he responded. "Immediate." The door shut behind him.

He scanned the list again, dismayed by the complexity of the targets in front of him. None of the four would be easy to find, and were certainly outside the realm of his own contacts in the financial sectors. This is not my line of work, he thought to himself. Financial transactions and predictions are easy. This is a manhunt; why am I involved?

The Broker's motives were impossible to discern. The structure of the information network was extremely hierarchical and segmented. Even Barla Von only reported to a select number of upper Brokers that made up the inner sanctum of the Shadow Broker network. It was smart division, and it enabled the washing of hands rapidly if something went wrong: blow an agent's cover, and at-most only two or three others would be compromised by the breach. While secure, it meant that this assignment was out of the depth of Barla Von's own contacts. This called for more drastic action.

Barla Von tapped another keypad on his desk, and the two monitors shifted apart, forming the edges of a large projection screen that appeared in the middle of it. It flickered on as he impatiently keyed in his path of choice on the extranet. The vast reach of the extranet's Relay Channels could find virtually anything, provided one was willing to make the query public. The gated feeds, such as those used by the Shadow Broker's information network – traded breadth for security, but this would require sacrificing the latter to gain the former. He would have to do the unthinkable, and enter the relay channels of the Citadel's hacker underworld.

Every colonized space in the galaxy had them, that network of amoral and apolitical hackers, tech bugs, and cyberpunks that clung to the opaque fringes of the extranet. They were a strange group; they generally had no higher political or collective goals, but beyond that it was impossible to determine what they stood for. Some did it for money, some for security, others for kicks. It was to the first and third of those groups that Barla Von would have to turn to be successful. Despite having ventured this far into the ERC on only a handful of occasions, he knew the route well, navigating with ease through the forums and sub-forums until he found the cluster of feeds he was looking for. Once in the midst of the feeds, he added a public message.

V: General Query. Am looking for locations of four individuals on Citadel. Will require significant hacking or infiltration expertise. Willing to pay well for verify. Move to PF

It took two minutes for a response, but a private feed eventually appeared between Barla Von and three hackers that went only by C, M, and Q. He didn't know their real names, their species, or even their background, but it was a good enough start for him.

Q: Can guarantee results in 1CSH.

C: 0.5CSH

M: 0.75CSH, but less likely to trace.

V: Four names. All on Citadel guaranteed in last 20CSH. New location unknown. Need Verify.

Kaidan Alenko, Alliance Marine, formerly of SSV Normandy SR-1

That was probably the easiest of the names. Even by amateur standards, the Alliance's personnel movement records were remarkably easy to hack for anything below a Lieutenant Commander. Sure enough, it took less than a half Citadel Standard Hour for results.

C: [attachment] internal security camera feed two blocks from Alliance Temp Headquarters. Timestamped 9CSH ago.

M: [attachment] logged entrance to Armax Arsenal outlet, timestamped 11SCH ago.

Q: Attempted to hack Alliance internal protocols. Surprisingly well classified, was unsuccessful.

That was at least something to go on. The personnel transfer records of lower-ranked Alliance personnel tended to be fairly easy to access. If Alenko's file was proving difficult to break into, it meant he was engaged in riskier and more covert Alliance operations. For now, he could list Kaidan's location as known.

V: All will do nicely. Payment has been transferred to your accounts. Any further information on Lieutenant Alenko's whereabouts will be compensated.

M: What is the second name?

If the information provided on the datapad was accurate, the third and fourth names would prove very difficult to track down. He decided to gamble on the second.

V: Doctor Liara T'Soni, formerly of SSV Normandy SR-1.

She wouldn't have Kaidan Alenko's security protocols in place, but not being Alliance would make her harder to track down in the first place. It took fifteen minutes before he got any responses, but when he did they came in a deluge.

Q: [attachment] Security footage of two separate visits to a restaurant in Zakera Ward. Both less than thirty minutes of feed, both with the same Turian. Turian is Palaven-born. Second feed is 18CSH old, first is 21CSH. Lip-reading reconstruction is impossible given angle. Will attempt to parse audio.

V: Dr. T'Soni was confirmed on Citadel within last 20CSH. Can window be narrowed?

C: Security footage from Shalta Ward Lower Markets [attachment]. Seen entering general kiosk with two non-solid carrying cases. Both left in store. 9CSH ago.

Q: [attachment] Found second set of security footage, dated 0.4CSH later. Entered ERCS weapons kiosk. Purchase unknown. Am attempting hack with Users Y, D, but am so far unsuccessful.

M: [attachment] Dr. T'Soni was staying in the Chiron Hotel in the Shalta Wards. Security systems were easy. Records indicate the Asari has been residing there for ten days since loss of SR1. Paid up-front. Records also indicate Dr. T'Soni checked out of room in last 6CSH.

Six hours! That narrowed the frame considerably.

V: Anything further?

M: Q and I are reconstructing security footage since time T'Soni left Chiron Hotel to ascertain location. Reconstruction will take time. Acquaintance Y wishes to join conversation.

V: Granted.

Y: Hack of ERCS was unsuccessful.

C: Third name?

V: Garrus Vakarian, formerly of C-SEC and SSV Normandy SR-1

He had to wait less than two minutes for results.

C: Based on the profiles I can find, it appears the Turian in the footage of Dr. T'Soni in the Zakera Café time-stamped 21CSH ago is Vakarian.

Y: Am working through general hack database of security footage. Parsing will take several minutes.

V: I have deposited further payment in all accounts

M: Footage reconstruction is progressing, but still paints incomplete picture. Dr. T'Soni remained in the Shalta Ward following her departure from the Chiron Hotel. She travelled exclusively on foot, which makes time-lapse reconstruction easier. Final destination still unclear.

Y: Three sightings yielded. First is in Zakera Ward approximately eight hours ago. From the look of footage, is in lower markets, purchasing assault rifle.

V: Can you hack the store?

Y: The Zakera Ward is more upscale than other Wards, typically employs higher security. Based on previous attempts, this would not be a worthwhile venture. C-SEC captured three hackers last week attempting similar. Won't compromise self for largely irrelevant data.

Barla Von chafed at the delay. The Shadow Broker's own agents would be willing to compromise themselves in service to the information network, but freelance hackers wouldn't. Still, lacking the financial and armed security of an operative in his network, Barla supposed the decision was reasonable. He would have to hope the remaining two sightings were good.

V: Understandable. What are the other two sightings?

Y: One just outside of C-SEC Headquarters. Time-stamp seven hours ago. Show entering C-SEC Temporary Headquarters.

V: Any audio?

Y: Nothing beyond usual ambient chatter. Certainly nothing of note. Audio reconstruction beyond that impossible. The third is a single sighting before moving into the military dockyards in the Zakera Ward. Again, audio is impossible to reconstruct, no further footage can be ascertained – Hierarchy Protocols are too secure to hack without detection.

V: Do you know of anyone who could?

Y: I used to – two on Deinech and one on Invictus. The one on Invictus was killed three months ago. The two on Deinech have been absorbed into the Syndicates and Families there. Contact would be impossible.

Not for the first time, Barla Von seethed at Deinech's insular underworld politics. For the time being, he would have to list Garrus Vakarian's location as unknown, but likely off of the Citadel. If no footage existed of the Turian operative leaving the dockyards, then he must have departed from the Citadel. He emptied more of his funds into the hackers' accounts

C: What is the last name?

V: Jondum Bau, Special Tactics and Reconnaissance Branch of Citadel Operations

C: Can you provide full facial reconstruction profile?

V: [attachment]

Going after Bau's whereabouts was risky; he was just as liable to walk through the door to Barla Von's office armed to the teeth. But he had to try.

A full half-hour later, C and Y reported back with scarcely anything: two choppy security feeds that showed the Salarian Spectre moving through the Zakera Wards near one of the Rapid Transit stations. He was about to ask for more information when the other two hackers finally came back into contact with him.

M: Reconstruction of security footage of Dr. T'Soni is complete. Can now provide full profile of destinations on Citadel.

V: Where is the doctor currently located?

Q: Last footage is from approximately three hours ago. Outside Docking Bay F43. Dr. T'Soni entered, but did not exit.

V: Boarded a vessel?

M: It would seem that way. Public traffic indicates the Shadow of the Hegemon was docked there. Batarian freighter. Two prior flags in public archives for trafficking of Red Sand and counterfeit weapon mods.

V: What is current flight-path?

Q: Based on cargo seen in security footage, stops at Bekenstein and Anhur. Given relative isolation of the latter, final destination likely Illium, Khar'shan, or Omega. Flight logs are proving difficult to hack through Citadel Systems.

V: Very well. Funds deposited.

C: A scan of all Citadel security footage within authorized areas indicates no further sightings of J. Bau within the Wards or Presidium. Presumption is that he has left the Citadel.

Barla Von jotted all of the information into another file on his terminal. Of the four names he had been asked to target, Lt. Kaidan Alenko was the only one with known whereabouts. Garrus Vakarian had entered the military dockyards and was likely off the Citadel. Jondum Bau was proving impossible to track, and Liara T'Soni was en-route to the Terminus Systems. He dutifully entered this data into the file before sending it off to the numbered account listed on the datapad.

Somehow, he doubted that it would be well received.

Next: Act II - The First and the Last