Chapter 37: Without Innocence A Cross Is Only Iron


"You do not solve your problems by drinking, throwing money at it... or throwing bullets at it."

Words from Rear Admiral Averescu's mistress. The man in charge of one of Humanity's most powerful weapon platforms ever developed is an alcoholic zealot with anger management issues. Refuses to answer questions when confronted by journalist and turns violent.

(Opening forWesterlund News's most viewed article after publication of Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani's independent investigation into Leonard Averescu)


"Good morning, Khalisah," Valerio greeted her. She was having breakfast at her desk. "Change menu today?"

The journalist looked from her computer, her mouth busy munching. She smiled. "Have you seen the numbers?" she asked with glee.

"Yeah! More viewers for us. Montgomery's losing popular sentiment. Polls and predictions show he's going to be suspended from office."

Khalisah giggled. "Just like that... truth overthrew a federal referendum. It does not happen too often, does it?"

"News is spreading like wildfire."

She drank from her cup of tea to wash food down her throat. "There's more. The board said our platform is growing and is more visible with each month. Last evening skyrocketed our audience."

Valerio grew a smile on his face and snapped his fingers in her direction. "Better advertising! More money, more benefits!" He giggled with her as they high fived. He took one step closer with the . "I have been thinking about it all night. I can't find an answer. And it's eating me alive!" he exclaimed with a maniac look in the eyes. "How did you get that audio?"

Khalisah waved her index finger left-right. "Ladies keep their secrets."

"No, seriously. How?" he insisted.

"Mm-mmm," she refused to yield her secret.

"Fine!" he threw his hands up. "At least tell me how you managed to sneak a microphone to their table for their dinner?"

She leaned back in her chair with a smile. "Oh, that was easy! I pretended to be his date who arrived early." Her interlocutor's eyebrows shifted one centimeter up. "I was shown to the table. Told the waiter I'll be waiting before ordering. And sneaked a wireless microphone under the table." She smiled triumphantly.

Valerio laughed. "Ever resourceful. I could not say it live, but I will say it now. That crazy bastard does not miss for good company."

"What, are you jealous now?" she mocked him. "She opens her legs for the right tariff. In case you forgot."

"Naaah!" Valerio turned his head from her. "Not like that! You always pick at the worst possible meaning of my words."

"God help you if I ever make an investigation on the most lecherous public person I ever met."

Valerio pointed his finger at her. "You are evil because you like it."

She shrugged. "Professional defect."

He sighed. "Did you not listen to your own recording of their table talk? That woman cares for him. Far too much to be just friends. He's just... rude to her. I think we totally screwed that one up for them. And what of her livelihood? Will she get more customers? Or fewer?"

"So this is about love, now? Are you suffering remorse for that zealot?"

"Who, me? For that man? As far as I am concerned, he can go eff himself off a cliff. I am just saying. It's not just him. He's one among others. His mistress, Elena, is collateral. I think she wants to leave the 'job'," he finger quoted, "and settle down. She seems genuinely concerned for him. Even after... finding out about his teen girlfriend. If she was angry I expect she would've just ditched him then and there. When she said about 10 years... could she actually be trying to pass him the idea to commit?"

Khalisah looked at her colleague for a few seconds. She parted her lips and closed them, thinking better about it. Eventually, she settled on a concerned tone. "Are you experiencing a midlife crisis?"

It was his turn to stare at her before letting out a brief sigh, rolling his eyes and leaving her desk. He put his right palm over his heart. "I truly felt physical pain because of your words." He shook his head before noticing something on her screen. "What business do you have at the court?"

"Hm, that? Just checking if the trial of the Asari staff was not postponed."

Valerio's brows furrowed. He pointed at the date. "That's awfully quick, no?" Khalisah nodded. "Verdict pending? You'd expect the press to kick a stink about these trials. This slipped right under the radar," he noted.

"That it did. Nobody thought they'd move this fast. And I want to go see why!" she declared. "Might be nothing. That's the federals we are talking about. So there must be something to it."

Valerio nodded thoughtfully. "I can hazard a few guesses. They won't sell though." He straightened his posture. "Tell me if I need to make a hole in my program to fit another investigation." He patted her shoulder and turned to walk away. "See you around!" He stopped after a few steps. Pivoted on the spot, a finger up in sign of seeking attention from her. "How did you know they would be at that restaurant?"

Khalisah just grinned like a kid who knew a secret and liked to brag about knowing it.


Arcturus Station, Administrative District

Presidential apartment

Montgomery covered his face with his palms. "What the fuck..." was the only reaction fit for his current state. "Fucking Westerlund..."

He had watched the replay of last evening's live broadcast.

"Give them a rat and they will sell it as a T-Rex," Osoba had a weary voice from his left on the couch. He leaned forward, eyes distant.

Montgomery turned sideways at his colleague. "What?"

Osoba massaged his face. "Fuck sake... Oh..." It was as if a growing migraine developed a voice of its own and took hold of Osoba's mouth. His massaging only made it worse.. "Oh, for fuck's sake... Ah!" Montgomery started to ask himself whether something was ailing his colleague. "Shit... Mmmmhhgrh! Right! Fuck!"

Montgomery blinked.

Osoba found his way to the strong spirits stash. He filled half a glass, lifted it to his mouth, muttered something only he could discern and threw his head back. All went down the throat.

"Dominic... what are you doing?"

Osoba turned around and let his shoulders slump. "This?" Each index finger pointed at its shoulders. "Is the weight I now have to carry."

"You?"

Osoba prepared another half glass for himself. He extended a second one to Montgomery who hesitantly accepted it without drinking from it.

"If not me, then who?" Osoba questioned. "Anita? We need her hands-on with the aliens. Do you want Udina to take charge? Or Ariake Asahi?"

"You speak as if I've already been voted out of office," Montgomery remarked.

Osoba stirred the alcohol. His eyes focused on the tall slush made by the centrifugal force. "Many good voters are already upset and up in arms on the Internet. This is a direct attack at your presidency. More than likely at our hold over the Parliament in the next elections. I'll be the best option if the referendum does not fail. Keep things compartmentalized." He dumped everything again in one go. "Agh!" It burnt his throat. "To think there was such a thing coming our way... Madness..."

The president huffed. "You fancy yourself in my stead now?"

Osoba shook his head. "Look at me. I am miserable because I think it is becoming mandatory."

"We have other party members who would run in my stead," Montgomery insisted.

"Oh, come on!" Osoba's voice was almost crying like a frustrated kid. "You can't possibly be serious... Alright!" He cleared his throat. When he spoke next he did it a firmer voice. "Let us be reasonable and assume the political nuke-" he pointed at the TV, "did its job. Who will we throw into the race?"

"You don't have to run for it if you don't want to carry that burden." He looked Osoba right in the eye. "Truly. You don't. If you can't carry the burden of that knowledge."

"No one else is available. Realistically speaking, it is best if I go for it. I've already been briefed. I know all I need to know. And I've made my peace with that knowledge. Do we really want to-" he held up a finger. "No, this is not about what we want. This is about what we can afford. Not as politicians or as party members. I mean as a species. What are our options?" Osoba held up his right hand thumb. "Udina for Terra Firma. His acolytes paid the nationalists a visit. We can assume he is courting them for a political marriage." He raised his index finger. "Ariake Asahi stated that if an early presidential race takes place she has the confidence of the technocrats to run from their side. And, in case you missed it, their parliamentary representatives have been a little too close with the social democrats lately. I have no idea what they've promised to each other. That leaves the conservatives who I am already trying to get on our side. But you know how stuck up they are. The last year turned the world upside down. They took to these changes like warm milk to time – badly. My guess is they'll flock to Udina's side."

He paused to catch his breath.

"Udina's a damn xenophobe. We've already laid the foundation to cooperate with the Turians. He'll say 'fuck all' and turn us into a hermit nation. We need friends to stand with us or we'll be devoured piecemeal whenever these Reapers make their move. Which Harper is convinced will be sometime in our lifetime, maybe this decade. That means we can't afford to take a hit and change policy. We lose vital Turian sympathy and Elcor raw resources. Ariake is a scientist and a teacher. They want to share all that knowledge with people. It's what she did most of her life. She won't stay quiet about this threat and will create mass panic at worst or be dismissed as a lunatic at best. Either outcome is more instability and almost guarantees Terra Firma's ascent."

Osoba extended his middle finger along the others.

"And there is me who can run from our side," he said. "I'm on board. I got the training. I am committed to the cause. And we swap positions. I run for president of the federation, you take my spot in the Parliament. We keep it tight and smooth, keep the ball rolling in the right direction. Hell, Ariake might fuck up much more than Udina ever could just by falling into political traps," he concluded with a sigh.

Montgomery tapped the side of his glass in thought. "How the hell did Westerlund get their hands on the audio?" Osoba crashed next to him on the couch. "You know, the weights on your shoulders? That's metaphoric. You don't actually carry rocks on your shoulders."

"Why are you chastising me?" Osoba asked defensively. "I feel like I've aged ten years just from that briefing. Feels like it's been years since I just... sat down."

He made Montgomery chuckle. "You'll be buying new furniture if you keep feeling that way and fall like a bomb on soft things." He sipped for the first time at his drink.

"I don't know."

"Hm?"

"I don't know how the audio file found its way into the Westerlund journalist's possession," Osoba clarified. "And there is no way to find out or do anything about it if we have that knowledge."

The best that could be done was to have Alliance News Network run an internal investigation. Whether it turned anything up was anyone's guess. An employee who processed the data could have taken a backup and sold the sensational for money. It was not unheard of. Or it could have been anonymously leaked.

While it was classified as a low level state secret, it would raise hell if they prosecuted the leak. It was not a matter of legality, but one of public legitimacy. Westerlund had the moral right of it – an alcoholic zealot was protected by the government. Even if people did not riot in the streets about it they would grumble every step of the way. They are already doing it. The riots would be guaranteed if the government prosecuted someone for the leak. Whoever this Robin Hood was... they had picked their moment and weapon well. It was well thought out.

They could have the AIC look into it. Unfortunately, it would be a gross misallocation of resources.

"Something feels odd about this business, Dominic," Montgomery said. "Let's keep an ear to the ground."


Citadel, Presidium

Council Chambers

"Councilor Tevos," an Asari approached her from the side. Tevos looked her over and recognized the face of her Military Intelligence aide. "This is important."

She allowed her to approach close. Almost intimate level of close. She delivered the news in a whisper. "We've picked apart the hack. It does not match our observations on the Human virus from the war. We're barely at the start of the investigation and new findings can change this. But we believe it is showing characteristics of Salarian design."

Tevos was surprised by the update. "Salarian? What are the chances of STG being the perpetrator?" she asked.

Her aide maintained the blank expression. "At this time? Based on what we have? I would say moderate. We could quickly identify the design characteristics because they are in line with very old STG malware. We can't discount their involvement. However, I don't think they had the proper motivation to do this. The Hierarchy and Alliance, on the other hand, do have the motivation."

She was right. Tevos followed the same line of reasoning. The Salarian Union did not have the motivation to hack the Citadel. Not at first glance. The Turians and Humans do have every reason. One wants to be rid of Sparatus and had been pushing a discordant note within Citadel politics. The other benefits from instability of the Citadel. At first glance. If she thought more she could find a few theories why the STG would perform this hack.

She knew that Salarian society was maintaining a balance between the Dalatrass Council and meritocratic movement. Their Dalatrass leadership favored closer cooperation with the Republics since they had more in common. They identified as matriarchal societies, for one. And maybe that point was the most sticking one. Familiarity. They've always been wary of Turians and their more militaristic view on the world.

It was not an unacceptable notion that the meritocracy faction pulled the move to help the Hierarchy. They could have used old architecture because it would be easier to deny and harder to prove it was the STG. Some of their cyber attacks throughout history had been analyzed to the greatest detail. It did not matter that it was against small or big targets. The cyber security organizations pooled data from every known attack to develop countermeasures. It also made this information something of an open source. Once it is out there it is out of your hands. A hand played is a hand revealed with all the consequences it entails.

Could also be a Human trick. After all, they were extremely adept at hacking their way through alien systems with their AIs. The galaxy was hard at work on analysis and countermeasures. She had no illusions it was going to be an iterative process until they had something competitive.

"We don't know how long this was in C-SEC's systems and the station's communications network," her aide said. "If it is indeed one of STG's old products it could have been planted a very long time ago and activated now. Hence the moderate probability."

"Anything that could link it to the Humans?"

"No evidence in that direction."

Tevos nodded. "Thank you for the update. I must prepare for a session with the rest of the council. Please keep me updated with everything important on this incident."


Arcturus Station

Arcturus Federal Court

The Arcturus Federal Court did not have many rooms to conduct its business due to how few sessions take place on the station. The station falls under the immediate jurisdiction of the federal government and plenty of petty crimes have seen trials here. A few famous trials started and finished here along the years. Present series of trials had the promise to be the most popular of them all.

Khalisah was seated in the audience. She recognized a score of journalists from other outlets among the attendees.

"All rise!" the bailiff called as five judges entered the courtroom.

Their seats and desk were elevated from the main floor a fair amount. Even when seated they looked down on those standing up. The space between the audience and judges was reserved to the defendant and prosecution. A federal prosecutor's team held themselves straight. Their disinterested expressions bothered Khalisah. Two Asari who looked rather miserable were in the defendant's place. One attorney represented them.

Khalisah was extremely curious as to how it'd go. Khalisah observed a robot body with feminine features in robes be seated in the middle. She nodded to the aide who started the recording. The aide recited the unique identifying number of the case and that the court is in session.

"Presiding judge of the jury, Hanne Aagaard."

"Everyone, be seated," the AI said with a stern voice. Khalisah appreciated the effort put into the Universal Platform by designers to make them emulate Human voice and body language so well. The judge's colleagues had a laptop each. She did not use one since she could interface directly via wireless with the relevant documents.

The AI, Hanne, looked between the prosecutors and defendants. "Human Systems Alliance versus Seeeno Ma'isan and Ciatha Tolis. Prosecution, do you have additional evidence to submit to the court?"

The prosecutor stood up briefly. "We do not," he said lightly. Khalisah narrowed her eyes a little on reflex, her suspicion stoked.

The presiding judge turned to the two Asari. "Does the defense have evidence to submit to the court?"

Their attorney stood up. "We do not."

"The court acknowledges that no additional evidence is submitted for review," she said and looked at her colleagues. "Do the honorable judges on this jury have additional words before we proceed?"

She received negative replies. In fact, Khalisah suspected this entire trial was a foregone conclusion and everyone was observing formalities. They just wanted this to be over and done with.

"In the first session we've been presented with evidence submitted by the prosecution and arguments from both sides," the presiding judge started. "The jury of five," she indicated between her and her colleagues, "reviewed the evidence, taken into account arguments and reached a conclusion. On the charges of: espionage, accomplice to supporting terrorism, accomplice to attempts to undermine the territorial integrity of the Systems Alliance. Within reasonable doubt this court finds you not guilty."

Khalisah huffed. She glanced at the prosecution. Their expressions had not changed. In turn, the two Asari were beaming.

"The Systems Alliance will support the financial costs for the defendants' expenditures. Additionally, the Systems Alliance must compensate the defendants for immediate accommodation expenditures until repatriation. The amount will be the average daily living costs on Arcturus Station for the year 2180, plus 10%." She lifted the gravel and struck. "Court is adjourned."


"Mister prosecutor! Sir!" she called out after she sneaked up on him on the hallway.

The man turned around and met her eyes. "Yes?"

Khalisah extended her arm. "Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani," she introduced herself.

The prosecutor warily shook her hand. "Yoon Hee-Jae. Can I help you with something?" He pretended to look behind her. "Is there a hidden camera or microphone somewhere?" he asked with a fake smile. [1]

Khalisah smiled back. She held her palms in a placating gesture. "Totally off the record."

Hee-Jae grinned fully and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Why do I doubt you?" Khalisah shrugged. "Ah yes, Westerlund has a... reputation for making people distrust them."

"I was only curious about the case on which you were the chief prosecutor. We've been in the same room some 10 minutes ago. Does it... not feel weird for you?" she asked.

Hee-Jae maintained his grin. He exuded confidence in his own person. "No, it does not. It's quite natural," he answered.

"So for you it is natural to lose a case?" Khalisah probed. Hee-Jae scoffed and broke eye contact for a second. "Do you make it your rule to prepare and investigate so poorly? The evidence must have been so bad for it to end in the second session of the case."

She had outright cut into him. Hee-Jae patted her on her upper arm like an understanding parent would to a child. "That was poor. Even for you," he jabbed back. "Good day, miss al-Jilani," he took his farewell.

Khalisah waited until he turned and walked a few meters. He did not look back. "Proud fool," she whispered to herself. She walked outside and slowly made her way to their office.

A phone call to Valerio ensued. "Hi! Are you at the office?"

"Yes."

"Great! Can you pitch something for me to the board and get me a small budget?"

"Eh... sure. What did you find out? Related to the trial, I assume?"

"Yes. It was a ridiculous display. I feel ashamed to have witnessed it. But a few things do not add up."

"Like what?"

"The prosecutor is young and full of himself. I got a measure of his character and this is my working theory. A person like him would have at least tried to present a better case. But the judges dismissed the case too easily. There must be a reason why he did not come up with serious evidence. I want to check a f-"

Valerio cut her off. "Have you seen the evidence before you want me to pitch it? Maybe he really did do his best to-"

"Tssk! If it was serious we would have a third session organized. It ended. They moved very, very fast. I want to look into two leads. First, check this prosecutor if he is new as he's pretty young. Maybe he simply could not refuse to take this up. However, he strikes me as the kind who does not like to lose. Second, depends on my first findings. Let's be the first ones to drop the news if I find something. Every other outlet with self respect will feel the waters in parallel."

"Mhm. Fair enough. Leave the bureaucracy with me. I want you on my show if you find something. Premiere."


Attican Traverse

SSV Spirit of Fire

Captain's quarters

Averescu looked over reports from the Sedna search flights. All they had found so far was a whole lot of nothing useful.

"Mare căcat pe băț," he cursed in his native tongue. [2]

They'd been scouring the star systems long and wide, making themselves visible with their array of active sensors. Yet nothing came for them, and nothing is what they came upon.

He shut down the screen of the computer and leaned on his elbows over the desk. He sighed in frustration. It was far too boring. Parading one of the most sought after prizes in the galaxy – a federal battleship – unescorted through the AO of the attackers. He had his escorting warships detach multiple times. The reasoning was, that it would present too juicy a target, not to take a shot at.

The rear admiral sighed, and stood up to change into some more comfortable clothes. He dropped his navy blues and leaned down to take off his shoes, as he did so, two crosses swung at his neck and into his field of view. The gold one was from his parents. He'd been carrying it since childhood for good fortune.

The silver was a recent addition. He slipped his feet out of his shoes and sat his ass on the bed. He brought the silver cross close to his face and gently sniffed with eyes closed. The fragrance was still there.

He smiled as the odor sent memories rushing into his mind. Memories of yearning, of dark flowing hair between his fingers. Memories of brown eyes, smiling at him, in a warm embrace. Memories of empty wine bottles, and a giggle that promised mischief. Memories of fingernails drawing shapes on his chest and back.

But ultimately it brought a tinge of shame. Perhaps he deserves to feel shame as well. The more he pondered on it, the more it shameful he found the situation.

It was fresh in his mind. Every sensation, move and word. They replayed like a movie in his head.

He was snuggling her in his lap. She was resting her head on his chest. Their skin almost glued to each other due to sweat. The TV was playing music at low volume in the dimly lit bedroom. [3]

I see… late at night in your window

Just a light, and I don't know

If you dream or you're awake.

"You've been awfully quiet," Elena said over the guitar's strings.

He had stirred from his trance. "I was thinking about what you said at dinner."

"Hm?"

"I've been rude to you. I am sorry."

I see… the nocturnal scene decor

With the knights from days of yore

Bidding you their path to take.

She started playing with the hair on his left forearm as his palm cupped her right elbow. "Yes, you were." He could feel the sting as he replayed her words in his head. Gentle pressure pulled her tighter into his embrace without encountering any resistance. "Will you be rude again?"

Averescu became stiff for a moment. Almost like a statue. "I pray not." In hindsight, he should have chosen his words better.

And… I do wish to step inside

To chase away from your bedside

All that's sad and unfair.

"Listen, Leonard..." her voice took that tone again. "You are not some stranger I've just met. We've known each other for a long time. I said what I thought was best for you."

"I do not want you to look at me with pity, Elena."

"Hm? How do you want me to look at you?" she purred under his chin. She leaned her head backwards and locked eyes. Yet again, she had that light in the pupils. The longer he looked at them, the more the eyes resembled flowers, her iris like brown petals. Woe be the moment when she resumed her previous posture. He was left with the strands of hair gently tingling his chin and neck.

And… I do wish I could assume

An old love song with perfume

Just to hang in your hair.

"It's not a sign of weakness to listen to advice and do something about your issues. Strength is not putting up a strong front every day. I've learned it is about facing life's difficulties, to overcome them and prosper," she offered her view. "Becoming complacent with a negative situation is lazy."

He remembered the words that were eating away at his mind. Was he really a lazy person? Was he truly a coward who did not wish to leave that which gave him comfort once?

I see… late at night in your window

Just a light, and I don't know

If you're laughing or you cry.

"What do you see when you look at me, Leonard?" he remembered she asked him. His index finger slid on the silver cross' chain, like he used to do when the cross when it was on her neck. She faced him again with a neutral expression. He blinked without a response. He had thought on that question and could not admit an answer that was making both ends meet.

She cupped his right cheek with the left palm while the right hand's fingernails swirled on his chest. "What am I to you? Am I the decadence of your world? If you see Katerina every time we meet then you are not brave. What are you, a double faced carnivore?" Her soft voice repeated in his mind.

Passing by… on my journey without end

I'm welcomed along as friend

Only by poplars old and wry.

"It makes me uncomfortable knowing what you are trying to substitute with me. I don't want that, Leonard. Put yourself in my shoes and imagine if I told you I am talking to you only because you look like a boy I fancied in my early adulthood. And please don't say I'm just selling you a service. You don't mean it. I know you well enough to read between the lines."

The more he digested her words, the more uncomfortable it became. What was Elena to him? When they were face to face, naked, he was unable to answer. His conscience was not clear. He could not help himself when the hurt, offended, even betrayed soul poured itself through her eyes. His reaction was only natural. His right arm wrapped around her shoulders, the left on the back of her skull. And covered her protectively. She did not fight it. Shoulder muscles with built up tension relaxed under his caress.

Would she forever question his intentions? Would she, every time they meet, hold him at hand's distance? See him as a liar. It takes years to build trust and only a moment to shatter it. Will her touch feel different because of that uncertainty?

But, I'll return again in stride

And chase away from your bedside

All that's sad and all that's ill.

"When do you leave?" she asked him after a few moments of gazing into each other's eyes in silence.

He thought it was a polite invitation to end their evening. He reached for his phone on the nightstand while pushing himself off the bed's headboard. "I will wire you the money."

The slight confusion he caught on her face made him feel... good. He could not put his finger on it exactly, but it felt good. He remembered how she leaned her weight into him and used her right foot to push his phone further out of reach. "I'm not kicking you out. And I don't want your money for tonight," she said.

And I… wish I could tell you an ode

Or a story from the road

When I dreamt below your sill.

"I have to be back on the ship tomorrow," he answered.

"How long?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "My orders are to patrol part of the Attican border and do a little force reconnaissance."

She hummed in thought. "Are there new problems with the Batarian bastards?"

"Ah, I have a feeling they will always cause problems. Stoke old fires and light new ones..." he had admitted to her. "What HIGHCOM is doing all along the sector is ...Frankly? Like a dog that comes to a newly mounted pole on the street and pisses on it to mark it as his territory."

The memory of her giggle at his straightforward words followed.

"But the older dogs have been pissing on that pole for a long time already." She had noted.

"Hm. True. Doesn't mean we won't drown out their stink with ours. A very expensive, arduous and necessary pissing contest."

She giggled again. "I owe you an apology as well," she admitted. "I can afford the luxuries because the military is out there, doing good work."

And… I do wish I could assume

An old love song with perfume

Just to hang in your hair.

He had acknowledged her admission with a simple hum. He traced the necklace holding the cross on her neck.

"So? How long will you be out on deployment?"

He sighed prior to answering. "Three months? Maybe less than that. HIGHCOM wants to rotate military units across theaters so everyone gains practical experience. Learn how to fight and interact with aliens, away from known space. We'll be back in 3 months if everything goes well."

Her right fingers reached to her collarbone and lifted the silver that had stuck to her skin with a faint wet sound.

"Here. For good fortune. And to remind you of a friend."

He remembered the feeling when she slid the silver cross over his neck, along his golden one.

"What? You've been carrying this since we first met. You can't possibly pass it to me," he sputtered. "I can't accept this, Elena. This is yours. Always has been."

It felt like that once a few years best gift as a child.

"Of course you can."

"You don't want to take my money, you gift me your old cross..."

"Surprise me with something when you are back," she instructed him. "Ought to keep you busy when you stare at empty radar displays."

He'd huffed with amusement. "That'd be called negligence in the line of duty. Which reminds me – I really should go back to the ship."

"Why?" she stopped him from standing up. "You said tomorrow. Tomorrow has 24 hours. I'm sure you can make it there in the morning," she said as lay beside him and pulled the blanket over themselves. "Sleep in a proper bed tonight."

And sleep he did. A good night's rest. "Remind you of a friend. Who am I to you?" her words echoed. He lay on his back, eyes fixed on the metal ceiling. Whatever she was to him, he could agree that he treasured her company and felt ill when thinking of severing that link. He could start from there.


[1] A little cameo from the Netflix series Hyena.

[2] Big shit on a stick

[3] For those interested, it is La fereastra ta by Semnal M adapted to English


AUTHOR's NOTES

Note 1

The last scene with Averescu remembering his last night with Elena was a pretty tough write. I will not lie. I have trouble writing romance scenes. I tried to make this as realistic as possible. My aim with this was to further Averescu's character development and also push the plot further. Although this is a minor secondary thread of the overall story, I feel like it needs to move forward. Please let me know your opinion on this scene and how I can improve such scenes in the future. I know there is no universal rule of thumb because it depends on the characters involved in the relationship, but any feedback will be greatly appreciated. The plan in the future is to develop (on the sidelines) other character relationships. Will appreciate if this helps me sort my mistakes early on.

Note 2

Other than the last scene, the internal Alliance (political) issues are developing. So are intergovernmental relations on the Citadel. The name of the chapter is a metaphor to the content. Curious if you've already figured out some of the things I keep hidden and slowly reveal with the plot.

Note 3

Not sure if many readers are picking this up, but I'm letting foreshadowing into my chapter names. Some did in the past. And into the story itself sometimes.


Active plot lines in the story as of this moment:

Alliance internal political power struggles (the Federalists vs Terra Firma)

Hierarchy internal political power struggles (Fedorian vs Sparatus) and what looks like a civil war brewing

Turian-Alliance joint operations against Saren and what they perceive is the beginning of a Reaper incursion of some sort

Alliance-Asari proxy operations

Alliance moving into the Traverse and encountering resistance

Alliance-Asari political and public image war

Salarian power struggle (military meritocracy vs dalatrasses); this one is now on a back burner, but its premises are explicitly detailed in chapter 26


A STORY BROUGHT TO YOU BY Apollonir

Thanks to Lich & Johnnieboy11 on Discord for their preliminary feedback.

Johnnieboi11 has some great fanfics you should check.