The Citadel VII
"Jump Zero was big. But this is a whole 'nother scale. Look at the ward arms. How do they keep all that mass from flying apart?" Kaiden asks leaning in to study them more.
"It must be some form of daisy-chained mass effect generators? But how do they sustain the eezo consumption?" Sampson ponders aloud.
"Well… I guess the Council has to deal with more races than I thought. Makes sense they're a little careful with newcomers like us." Sapphire admits after truly looking at the Ward arms and being slightly shocked.
"They probably just want to keep everything running. It has to be hard keeping all these cultures working together." Kaiden says standing up off the railing.
"Or maybe they just don't like humans." Ashley says snidely.
"What's not to like? We've got oceans, beautiful women, this emotion called love. According to the old vids, we have everything they want." Sapphire retorts.
"When you put it that way, there's no reason they wouldn't like you. I mean, us. Humans. Ma'am." Kaiden backtracks as he gets a look from Sampson and Ashley.
"You don't take much shore leave, do you, LT?" Ashley asks.
"All right, laugh it up, Williams. I appreciate the thought, Alenko, but we're on duty here." Sapphire says, brushing off the awkward moment.
"Um, aye, aye, ma'am." Kaiden says happy to skip over his slip of the tongue when a young Asiatic woman approaches the team.
"Commander Shepard? Excuse me, Commander Shepard! I'm Emily Wong. I'm an investigative journalist working here on the Citadel. Could I have a moment of your time?" Emily asks reaching out her hand to Sampson.
"Of course, Ms. Wong. What do you need?" Sampson asks returning the handshake.
"I've been hunting for evidence of corruption and organized crime on the Citadel, but there are places I can't go. I was hoping you might share anything you find during your own investigation. I promise to make it worth your time." Emily promises.
"How do you know that my investigation will uncover anything you need? How did you even know I was investigating anything?"
"You kind of just admitted to being in an investigation." Emily says causing Sapphire to snicker.
"And you wouldn't be investigating something if it weren't big. And if it's big, it's something I'd like to hear about." Emily says with a journalistic passion.
"I'm sure you've got to have access to better sources. Why reach out to me?" Sampson questions.
"Honestly, I'm using every source I can find, but I think I've got my best shot at cracking this with you. According to your file, you held Elysium almost single-handedly during the Skillian Blitz. You're a hero, whether you know it or not. And this story needs a hero to take Fist down right." Emily pleads earnestly.
"I can't promise anything, but if I find something relating to your case, I'll share with you what I can." Sampson tentatively agrees.
"I'll appreciate whatever you can get me, Commander. I promise you won't regret it." Emily promises as the team leaves to go towards Chora's Den.
Occasionally stopping at the merchants in the market to purchase licenses and useful armor modifications pertaining to medi-gel storage.
Once the team enters the walkway outside of Chora's Den, however, two turians loitering outside the bar draw their weapons as one shouts, "There's the targets!"
"Take cover!" Sampson shouts as the team splits up and takes cover.
Sampson, Ashley, and Kaiden lay down suppressing fire, pinning the two turians down, while Sapphire sneaks down the other walkway, before blasting them in the back with her shotgun. Allowing the team to regroup.
"Those must have been Saren's men." Kaiden says aloud.
"You don't think, Alenko?" Ashley says with an eye roll as the team walks into the bar.
"A million light years from where humanity began and we walk into a bar filled with men drooling over half-naked women shaking their asses on a stage. I can't decide if that's funny or sad?" Ashley says sighing in exasperation.
"What? You don't think they're here because of the food?" Kaiden asks as the sight of several lithe asari women twirling, shaking, and dancing along platforms for the customers' enjoyment.
"Yeah, the calamari." Ashley says while staring at one of the dancers for a moment to long before looking away.
Though the argument of two krogan further in the bar draws the team's attention.
"Back off, Wrex. Fist told us to take you down if you showed up." The krogan bouncer says to the scared red crested krogan.
"What are you waiting for? I'm standing right here. This is Fist's only chance. If he's smart, he'll take it." Wrex says with a gravelly growl.
"He's not coming out, Wrex. End of story." The Bouncer says folding his arms.
"This story is just beginning." Wrex says, storming off past the team before pushing past the team, "Out of my way, humans. I have no quarrel with you."
"What was that all about?" Kaiden asks with interest.
"Who knows? Let's just try not to get caught in the middle." Ashley says with a shrug.
Then, Sapphire sees Harkin, a balding middle aged man, in a corner drinking his ass off and she decides to approach him.
"Hey there, sweetheart. You looking for some fun? 'Cause I gotta say that soldier getup looks real good on that bod of yours. Why don't you sit your sweet little ass down beside old Harkin? Have a drink and we'll see where this goes." Harkin propositions sleazily.
"You-" Kaiden starts to say before Sampson holds him back and shakes his head.
"Blugh, I'd rather drink a cup of acid after chewing on a razor blade." Sapphire says, placing her hand on her hip, gently patting her shotgun.
"You trying to hurt my feelings? You gotta do better than that. After twenty years with C-Sec, I've been called every name in the book, princess." Harkin says, taking the rejection in stride.
"Call me princess again and you'll be picking your teeth up off the floor. Now tell me where that C-Sec officer is, Garrus!" Sapphire shouts slamming her fist on the table.