Cassian had never been inside The Hollow before. And if he was being honest, he'd have preferred to keep that streak going.

It wasn't as bad as some of the Wards' more infamous crime dens, but it wasn't far off. The place reeked of cheap liquor and desperation, neon lights pulsing off the walls, too many bodies packed into one space. It was the kind of place where you could get shot for looking at someone too long.

Which was exactly why Selyna walked in like she owned it.

Cassian adjusted his collar, stiffly following her lead. People noticed them immediately. Because, of course, they were in uniform. Eyes flicked their way, quick judgments being made.

Cassian could already feel it. They weren't welcome.

He leaned toward Selyna, lowering his voice. "This isn't exactly a friendly spot for C-Sec."

Selyna just grinned. "That's the fun part."

Cassian gritted his teeth. She wasn't taking this seriously. This was a shake-down, not some off-the-clock bar crawl.

Selyna moved through the crowd with the confidence of someone who had been here before. Cassian followed, feeling like a target was being painted on his back with every step.

She finally stopped at a booth in the back. "Hey there, big guy."

Cassian looked up. An elcor sat across from them, hunched over a glass of something Cassian was sure could strip paint.

His heavy, slow voice rumbled out, tone as neutral as ever. "With apprehension: T'Veyna. I do not recall inviting you."

Selyna just smirked. "Yeah, well. I don't need an invitation."

Cassian already had a headache. The elcor – Brannic – didn't offer them a seat. Didn't even look at Cassian. "With frustration: I am a businessman. I have no interest in C-Sec interruptions."

Selyna leaned against the table, all casual arrogance. "Yeah? Well, my boss thinks you might know something about our missing persons case."

Brannic's voice remained level, slow. "With dismissal: I do not deal in people. Only goods."

Cassian stepped forward, arms crossed. "Then you won't mind answering a few questions."

Selyna's smirk twitched.

Cassian had said the wrong thing. Not because it wasn't accurate. But because Brannic was the kind of guy who didn't answer questions unless he had a reason to.

And right now?

They weren't giving him one.

Selyna exhaled, shaking her head. "See, Cassian, this is why nobody likes talking to cops."

Cassian shot her a sharp look. "You know we're cops, right?"

Selyna just shrugged.

Cassian turned back to Brannic, straightening his posture. "Look. Three people have gone missing. Someone moved them quietly. If you've heard anything–"

Brannic sighed, setting his glass down. "With growing irritation: I have nothing for you. I suggest you leave."

Cassian felt the window closing.

But before he could say anything, Selyna moved. She slid into the booth across from Brannic, propping her boots on the seat beside her like she had all the time in the world. Then she grinned.

"Brannic, buddy." She leaned in. "You and I both know you hear everything that happens in this Ward."

Brannic's expression didn't change.

Selyna's grin widened. "So let's make this easy. You give me something, anything, and we walk out of here, no reports, no heat. Just another quiet night."

Cassian clenched his jaw. This was not how they were supposed to be doing this.

Brannic let out a slow breath. "With annoyance: I do not wish to be involved in your affairs."

Selyna tilted her head. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that."

Then she grabbed his drink and downed it in one go.

Cassian closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. This was a disaster.

Brannic moved faster than Cassian expected. One second, he was still seated. The next, he was slamming a heavy fist into the table.

A few patrons turned toward the noise. Cassian tensed. This was about to go sideways.

Selyna wiped her mouth, completely unbothered. "That hit a nerve?"

Brannic stood.

And so did three guys at a nearby table.

Cassian barely had a second to register what was happening before the first one swung at Selyna. She ducked under it, grinning like she was enjoying herself.

Cassian wasn't.

Because now it was a full-blown bar fight.

Selyna moved like she'd done this a hundred times before. Cassian moved like he wanted it to be over. He blocked a hit from one of Brannic's guys, twisting the attacker's arm into a lock, slamming him into the bar.

Selyna, meanwhile, was laughing. Cassian turned and saw her throw an elbow into a batarian's gut before kicking his legs out from under him. She wasn't just fighting. She was having fun.

Cassian hated everything about this.

Eventually, the last guy hit the floor with a groan. Selyna exhaled, rolling out her shoulders.

Brannic was still standing. He didn't look pleased.

She dusted herself off and grinned at him. "So… still don't wanna talk?"

Brannic let out a slow sigh "With resignation: I hate you."

Selyna smirked. "That's fair."

Cassian and Selyna walked out before backup arrived.

Cassian's jaw was still tight. He could feel bruises forming on his arms, and he was pretty sure he was going to get an earful from Bailey.

Selyna, on the other hand, looked like she'd had a great night.

Cassian exhaled sharply. "You're insane."

Selyna just laughed. "You're welcome."

Cassian wasn't sure what pissed him off more, the fact that she wasn't taking this seriously…

Or the fact that her plan worked.

By the time they were all back at the precinct, Cassian had two new bruises, a throbbing headache, and a rapidly declining tolerance for Selyna T'Veyna.

She was still grinning. Cassian was still trying not to throw her through a wall.

Jace and Leila were already in the briefing room when they arrived, both of them looking like they'd just come off an argument they weren't ready to acknowledge. Nyxara was the only one who didn't look like she wanted to kill someone. Then again, she had been working solo.

Cassian was starting to think she got the best assignment.

Bailey walked in last. The moment the door slid shut, he exhaled. "Alright. Someone tell me you actually found something."

Nyxara lifted her omni-tool. "Got something," she said.

Then, without waiting for permission, she sent the data to the holo-projector. A series of coded transmissions appeared in the air between them. Then, with another flick of her fingers – the encryption shattered.

And in its place, a cargo manifest.

Cassian sat forward. Jace narrowed his eyes. Leila exhaled through her nose. "Well, shit."

Bailey folded his arms. "Explain it."

Nyxara's mandibles twitched. "The transmissions weren't ransom messages, distress calls, or anything else you'd expect from a missing persons case," she said. "They were shipping records." She zoomed in on the document, highlighting a line of text.

Lot 317 – Processed for Departure.

Leila muttered a curse under her breath. Jace's jaw tightened. Bailey's expression didn't change. But Cassian could tell – he didn't like what he was hearing.

"They're not missing," Jace said.

Nyxara nodded. "No. They were moved."

Jace leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. "Then we don't sit on this."

Bailey exhaled through his nose. "Then find out where they're holding them."

That was all the squad needed. Within minutes, they had pushed aside their frustrations, their bruises, their egos.

Now, they were doing the work.

Leila and Jace cross-referenced transport records with security footage. Cassian and Nyxara searched dock registries for any sign of unusual movement. Selyna did what she did best – she called in a favor. And in under an hour, they had an answer.

A warehouse in the lower Wards, recently rented under a fake corporate name. Security footage showed shipments moving in – but nothing coming out.

And when Nyxara cross-checked the cargo manifests?

The name "Lot 317" showed up again.

Jace looked at Bailey. "We're going after it."

Bailey didn't argue. "Then gear up," he said. "We move now."