[LTD-Taseyri]Bazaar

A paw grabbed hold of the bar with a grip that was every bit as iron, stopping it in its tracks. For a second, the boy continued trying to swing, tugging with futility, suddenly immobile. His face registered slight confusion. Then he noticed what had happened, and blanched.

"Menacing: I would suggest you let go of the bar".

Adapted to a gravity of 4g, an elcor possessed incredible strength in the 1.02g environment of the wards. With minor exertion, he pulled the makeshift weapon out of the boy's hands, sending him stumbling back. The children around them looked on with various expressions of wariness, anger and fear. For his part, Xuumo-kalashasi just stared, hoping the rather unsubtle point had been made. The benefits of being elcor: they trusted you...and you could make it clear just how little they wanted to get on your bad side without actually making a threat.

He moved protectively in front of Rondor and the injured girl, with the slow deliberation his kind were known for.

"Warily: Haste is always the enemy, my young friends. Remember that".

"Fuckin' hell boss", Snow muttering as he saw situation escalate, a rat pulling a shiv on Miss Rondor. Somehow she convinced the kid to stand down, only for the leader to break out an metal bar and ill intentions. This was going from bad to worse, if not for Xuumo, Miss Whiskers would have been brained, the ex-salvager was busy dealing with a stand-off of his own making. The rat had guts, still holding onto his blade even though his friend dropped her weapon, "okay, this isn't working, try something else Snow", thinking to himself as he slowly sheathed his knife, keeping his eyes on the kid, the next words would have to get their attention,

"There's no reward for my head kid, not for a duct rat anyways. You, unfortunately, are what senior gang members call a loose end. Once I'm dead what do you think happens next?" Snow's breathing starting to level off, the rage fading, replaced by guilt, "The Lady killing has everyone nervous, and the last thing a crew like the LTE wants, is a duct rat that knows too much. So my guess, they'll just kill you and anyone else who knows, just to be safe." Finishing his pitch, Snow saw some doubt in the rat's eyes, he didn't let go of the knife, but the resolve was gone.

Michelle's eyes widened a little when she saw how close she had been from having her head bashed in. Her poker face was still doing wonder, nobody could tell that inside she was screaming a long list of profanities.

After a few seconds she smiled to her would-be attackers, stood up and faced the kids.

"Ok, I think we got off the wrong foot here. My name is Michelle, this is Julian. We're from the organization called "Leaving the Duct". Our job is to help you guys so that one day you may have your own jobs and places to live and things like this."

The kids obviously didn't trust Michelle. She wasn't surprised. For a duct rat, someone who claims to want to help is someone who wants something. But they weren't violent, so she continued.

"We're very sorry about this problem with this gang. You see they think that you should stay in the streets forever, and work only for them, do only what they want. So things got bad. They may get even worse, to tell you the truth. But we don't want to let gangs dictate your life, because our job is to give you the life you want."

The kids had trouble believing her obviously.

"She's right, right now it's rough, and it'll get worse before it gets better. But we're not the enemy, the bastards who jacked up Denise? They're the same lot who pulled a blade on Michelle here, they're the ones who threatened a priest in his own church. And they're the same fuckin' ones who will throw you aside when your usefulness is at an end." Snow made his way to Miss Rondor's side, his grey eyes surveying the group of rats, seeing a couple with a flash-frozen look, they obviously had a body count. Still others were barely in their pre-teens, going on thirty. He remembered what Miss Whiskers told him,

"These kids need someone who has had it rough...."

"How do I even know what you all face, let alone where you've been? I ran with a gang from when I was nine until fifteen. I know what it's like to be at the mercy of greedy men who have no concept of tomorrow...", Julian's voice trailing off for a moment, remembering the bad and good about the DSC. Taking in a breath, "Point is, don't be a fuck-up like me. Try to be something..." finishing abruptly, his eyes showing a hint of regret as he turned to Miss Rondor, hoping she'll pick things up where he left off.

Michelle nodded at Snow. His speech had made the kids quieter. They could tell he wasn't spewing a line. Of course they didn't all magically embraced the newcomers, but they weren't really hostile anymore, and realized those two humans had something to say.

The leader, a young barefaced turian, was hesitant now, but still defiant.

"Hey, what tell us ya're not just making that up to save yer hide?"

Michelle shrugged.

"It's a good question. You know those gangs better than we do. Would they sooner give you money, or hurt you."

The leader looked at Denise and cast his weapon on the side.

"Whadya want?"

Michelle smiled warmly. All the kids were putting away their weapons now. This had been a big first step.

"Julian and I wanted to introduce ourselves to you, but also ask a favor. Now, we wouldn't insult you by asking anything without giving you something in return so..."

She took the bag of food of the ground and handed them over to the leader.

"Those are levo, those are dextro of course."

He obviously appreciated that she gave it to him directly, and he started to distribute the food evenly. There were a lot of protein bars, the kind that kept someone going for days, and sweets. The kids shared happily. At some point the leader nodded to Michelle to continue.

"Thank you very much. Our friend here is mister Xuumo-kalashasi, and he has a request for you."

Here it was. The children looked expectantly at the elcor, some of the earlier wariness returning to their faces. For all that Snow's personal revelations and Rondor's elegant appeal had calmed them, they weren't going to drop their guard entirely. The humans may have earned the youngsters' cautious trust, but he hadn't, and experience had long taught them that when duct rats were wanted, the attention was rarely positive.

He tried to aim for a effect part-way between friendly and commanding.

"Approvingly: I can see from your collective response just now, hasty as it was, that you young people look out for each others' safety. Thankful satisfaction: That is particularly reassuring to me, because someone once known to me is - so I'm told - likely to be among your number, and knowing he has been well cared for is a great relief.

Gently provocative: I'm searching for the son of a former friend, a boy named Alonso Cutri".

He paused, letting that sink in. The children's faces gave nothing away. It was, he considered, exactly how his own kind appeared to bipeds in general: impossible to read. Yes, these youngsters were going to be a challenge.

"With conviction: I am here to offer opportunity for a better life for young Alonso. My colleagues here have graciously brought me to meet with you in hopes that you can aid me in making that offer".

Breathing a bit easier now, Snow stepped back, letting Xuumo talk to the duct rat colony. He probably wasn't going to gain any traction by telling him that the three of them were looking for Alonso Curti, and him alone. "Let's just hope the goodies Miss Rondor brought can loosen a few tongues", the lean charity worker thought as he surveyed the area with his eyes, finding three ducts in the area along with a 'overland' route leading up to the rooftops. Plenty of ways Alonso could evade notice and get around Tayseri without anyone being the wiser. Snow turned back around, just as Xuumo finished his query, the children exchanging knowing looks, yet turning to the turian, their top boy to answer,

"So that's it huh elcor, just here for Zo? One lousy furhead?"

Snow caught a few whispers from the rats, some in agreement, others bristling at the slur. The sentiment was shared by all however, the rats suspicion returning, the ex-salvager shaking his head in resigned sympathy. "The truth got us this far", thinking to himself before getting the turian kid's attention,

"Kid, you're living in the ass end of the Citadel, surrounded by wealth, but having to steal and beg to survive. What made you think life is fair?"

Michelle nodded sternly.

"Yes, one loosy furhead. For today anyway. We saw an opportunity for one of yours, and we came to deliver it. We'll keep creating opportunities for each and every one of you. And until you're all set in the life you want, we'll do our best to help you, no matter what piss-drinking gangers say."

A young salarian decided to change the subject.

"Yeah yeah yeah, all good and shit, but what tells us that Mr Big Paws here will be good to Alonso? What tells us that a month from now Alonso won't be all-"
The kid started a dumb elcor impersonation.
"Lamely : I only eat leaves now. Super lamely : Please kill me."

Michelle couldn't help but smirk at the remarkably accurate elcor imitation, but soon regained control.

Ha. Ha. Ha..

Salarians. Of all the races on the Citadel, the most flighty and the least sensible. Mock all you like, young one. It's not my race who are practically pariahs in this system.

If it were simply a matter of earning the kids' respect, he could do it. But he wasn't entirely sure how to earn their trust, and that was the important thing in this case, particularly if he wanted the help of Leaving the Ducts. To be frankly honest with himself, he had never particularly needed to earn trust from aliens. Either he got it, simply by virtue of his people's reputation, or their futile efforts to read him meant that they swiftly gave up second-guessing, accepting him at face value. That, or they were wary of his size and strength, and thought it best to defer to him. None of these points seemed to apply here; to the rats he was an outsider, an intruder, come to threaten the one certainty these youngsters had - the integrity of their communal support group. More, he was here to take part of that group away. No, they weren't going to be easily reassured.

So be it. He didn't have to make them like him, only to make them stop viewing him as external to the herd. He'd need to find common ground. The first stick needed to kindle that spark of equivalence was a snarky response to their cheek.

"Darkly sarcastic: I think your gangster friends are more likely to drive him to his death than the contents of my larder. Snidely: And unlike your young friend here, I do in fact know the eating habits of the major races. I was not planning on putting him out back to graze."

Now for the other stick, that when rubbed against the first would make the fire. Having matched their hostility (and combined with his earlier show of strength that should hopefully show them that he meant business, and was not a figure of fun), he would now need to defuse the tension by appealing to common values.

“With admiration: You are loyal to your fellows, aren't you? I respect that, because such loyalty is what motivates me to come before you today".

He swung his head, taking the group in, before returning his focus to the angry barefaced turian, their leader.

"Faux-conspiratorially: Let me tell you about "Mr Big Paws" here. I spent many years working for the Courts of Dekuuna, a respectable position that gave me opportunities, opportunities not open to many elcor. Alonso’s father was my human counterpart, and a trusted confident. Solemn: He died during the recent war, as you no doubt know if you've sheltered Alonso. Defensive: I could have returned to Dekuuna when the relays reopened; enough elcor ships are passing through to help with the rebuilding that it would have been simple enough to book passage. But I did not. Assertively: The reason is the exact same reason that you shelter Denise here, the same reason that you are wary of my taking Alonso away - the understanding that loyalty to your friends is the truest measure of a sapient being.

Firmly, with mocking undertones: Believe that I'm here to acquire a pet human and feed it leaves all you want. It will not change my determination to bring Alonso off of the streets. It might, however, make it harder for him to get the help he needs".

He had wondered if Alonso would be using his actual name; many of the duct rats ended up taking on monikers, perhaps sharing their true name with a few trusted friends, as a show of trust and loyalty. Almost like hanar, he though idly, though hanar were significantly less trouble than this lot were shaping up to be. Xuumo-kalashasi hoped that Alonso hadn’t assimilated into the duct rat culture too readily. I’m here to retrieve him safely, not uproot him in a way that will make him resent me. The way today was unfolding, he certainly didn't need another complication in gaining the boy's trust.

"Frankly: I am not a charitable man by nature; I do not have the resources. So, no, I am not here to help you as a group. That is the job of this human here. Sarcastic: If you refrain from crushing her skull with an iron bar over the next few weeks, you will likely see some real opportunities begin to take shape for you. Reverent pride: In my tradition we have a saying. The strength of the herd is in the footsteps of its Elders. This human - both these humans - have left prominent footsteps over this ward, and are committed to producing more. It is in them that you should be investing your interest. Myself, I am here to repay my debt to a friend, and find a boy - one, lone, fur-headed boy - who means a great deal to me".

The noble and reasonnable speech of the elcor had an unforeseen effect on his audience.

At first, Michelle was nodding approvingly, for his arguments made a lot of sense, and some kids were won out. And Xuumo went on, with the slow and monotone speech pattern typical of his species. The first to obviously lose patience was the salarian joker. Then Denise fell back asleep, the little kids started fiddling with their fingers. The turian leader was trying very hard to follow, and Michelle was impressed because even her had trouble staying concentrated. She felt bad because Xuumo really said beautiful things, but that elcor voice!

"...who means a great deal to me."

The kids all rose their head in disbelief. It was over! An awkward silence followed. When Michelle saw that nobody dared talk, she simply said, with the tiniest smirk.

"If you are not convince I'm sure mister kalashasi will agree to describe in many details how he intend to take care of Alonso".

She felt a pang of remorse seeing the horrified expression of the kids. The leader immediately spoke.

"No no no! It's alright, no need, he convinced us! Kakro, he said to the salarian comic, go inside get Pikra, she saw Alonso recently. FAST now!"

The kid turned to Michelle again.

"What will happen to us now? The gangs will be back ya know! Even if we tell them nothing they'll beat us they will!"

Michelle had a pained smile.

"Yes, it's true, I think your best bet is not to be here when they arrive. Julian, I seem to remember that the Spirit's gardens shelter was far outside the area of activity of our LTE friends, is it not?"

"Yeah, it's over by the road leading to the main drag past a Titan Industries warehouse, close to New Dillinaga Co-Op turf, I guess this means I get to run interference while you and Xuumo find Zo," Snow drawled as he turned his attention to the turian kid, watching him restore order and get the rat who had Alonso's location. The lean, hard looking charity worker personally liked that plan, Xuumo could ensure Miss Rondor's safety while searching and Snow could get the kids to the shelter quicker than if traveling with the motherly woman and hulking elcor. The bareface teen gave Snow a cynical smile at that suggestion as Pikra, the rat he called for emerged from the makeshift shelter.

"Hey Pikra, these do-gooders are asking about Zo, where was he last?" The top boy was all business, his tone level as the asari child shuffled her feet a bit before murmuring, "Zo told me he found a spot at a warehouse, it's nearby a hostel close to the bazaar. He told me the LTE doesn't go there, and that there's lots of pockets and food to snatch", Snow started to smile at the answer, he knew exactly where Alonso Curti was. An old machine warehouse off the beaten path by his current residence. "Small galaxy", muttering to himself as he keyed up his omnitool, bringing up a map of the location, along with a floor plan, suggesting that Snow had been there before to his fluffy supervisor and hulking client. Sending the info packet to Miss Whiskers he turned to the turian rat, his gaze meeting the boy's defiant stare, "You have three minutes till we have to beat feet for the Spirit's Garden. Get your people ready, normally I'd suggest using the ducts and rooftops, but with Denise hurt, we'll have to take it slow and steady."

Not waiting for an answer, Snow turned to Miss Rondor and Xuumo to confer, "You two head for the warehouse, I'll get the kids to the shelter. The warehouse isn't too big, but it's got four ducts on the lower level at least, once you get there just take it slow. I'll find an alternate route, don't worry."

To say that the kids were happy to leave the court would be a gross lie, but they saw the importance of it, and under the efficient direction of their leader, they got in gear fast. Michelle showed Denise's boyfriend and another batarian kid how to carry her without aggravating her injuries. It felt difficult for her not to send her straight to a hospital, but there was no way the kids would go for it, and the shelter could provide for Denise. If her injuries had been more serious, Michelle wouldn't even have asked.

With the elcor at her side she saw the little troop departing, in line behind their leader and Snow. The salarian joker was imitating an exaggerated soldier march, which got him a stern look from the pack leader, and giggles from many other kids.

Michelle turned to the elcor and smiled. "Shall we?"

Had that been a pointed message from Snow, the reference to his chosen screen name on CDN? A subtle warning that as far as the human was concerned, Xuumo-kalashasi still hadn't fully proven himself? Perhaps the man, Snow, was more subtle than most bipeds.

With everyone finally in agreement, they prepared to leave the clawball court. Back to the bazaar, in his case. That was to say, he and Rondor would be going one way, heading back to the unfortunately undersized bazaar in which he'd met her, while Snow and the duct rats would go another. For the first minute or so, however, they were moving together, Michelle and Xuumo trailing behind the others, and that must have been quite a sight for anyone watching.

Xuumo-kalashasi, proud son of Dekuuna, didn't know whether to be pleased or humiliated. This was what his day had come to - shepherding a group of rag-tag youngsters through the Citadel, bringing up the rear like the silent, hulking servant of a twisted little family. On the other paw - and with the careful, measured reasoning which an elcor could comfortably call his birthright - he reasoned that this was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate his worth as Alonso's guardian. He was once again standing on stable ground, soon to be reunited with a boy he was relieved beyond measure to have nearly located. The female human, Rondor, remained an ally, while her male associate - possible pointed comments notwithstanding - seemed to have put his suspicion aside for now, to focus instead on the undeniable threat posed by the gangs. Still, anything that would reinforce his own capacity for protective child-care would aid him further. He therefore took care to loom protectively over the smaller children as they moved.

He was relieved when Snow and the children left them a minute later. A small, petty part of him was rather satisfied with the idea of Snow forced to lead this little procession to the shelter alone, putting up with whatever cheek they shot his way. Leaving him free to resume his pleasant exchanges with the well-meaning Rondor. He addressed Snow now:

"Confident: You may rest assured, Mr. Snow, that I will keep Ms. Rondor safe. Proudly: Very few people are willing to take on an elcor".

To the children:

"Contemplative: I wish you all luck; in aiding Alonso you have done more for me than I think you will ever know. Gruffly: Farewell".

"Yeah yeah yeah, nice knowin' ya Mr. Big Paws", was the lone answer from Snow's little entourage, from the smart-mouthed salarian no less. Snow merely nodded in detatched acknowledgement as the turian kid gave the joker a pointed glare in reply, the group turned away from Miss Rondor and Xuumo, slowly making their way through the backstreets and alleys to the main road leading to Spirit's Garden. The noise of vehicles coming to and from the docks and warehouses helped mitigate the tense silence of the group, the hard looking charity worker letting his eyes move from the streets, storefronts, and back to the duct rat colony. The turian rat knew his shit, no stragglers, no excess garbage, "must have been a soldier's kid before this life", Snow thought as they reached an intersection, finally noticing the batarian kid carrying Denise looking at him. The rat hadn't stopped staring since leaving the clawball courts,

"Hey kid, never see a human before?" Snow replied cooly, leveling his stare to the fourteen(?) year old batarian, "never met a furhead that could use haraba...if what the LTE told us was true". Snow sighed in disgust, not even a month on Tayseri and the word was out. "Picked up the sport on a long haul in the Arcturus Stream from a co-worker, passed the time anyway. Why are you interested?" "Why don't you teach me? " The kid pestering Snow despite the turian kid telling him to shut up. Part of Snow wanted to say yes, but he didn't have the time to teach a smart-mouthed blink how to fight, with trying to get LTD up and running, surviving day to day, not to mention keeping SATAE off his back. "Because there has to be a batarian on this goddamned station you can learn from...shortstack." "Yeah but...", "Stow it Junar", the turian top boy intervened, finally. The facade of Spirit's Garden greeting the motley crew as Snow signaled for the rats to stop, "Wait here, let me get the person in charge", the lean charity worker whispering as he gave the door a ring, thinking to himself,

"Just hope Miss Whiskers called ahead."

Michelle and Xuumo talked a little while walking back to the bazaar.

"Don't worry Xuumo, I'm sure everything will be fine once we get Alonso onboard. And although Mr Snow may have looked on the defensive, which is in a way his job, I fully trust you'll be good to the kid. We'll follow closely the acclimatisation process anyway.
And although it's harder to read clues from one of your species, you seem to me like a nice person."

And a person smart enough not to hurt a kid we're caring about, now that you know even gangs don't prevent us from doing our job...

"There is the bazaar, we shouldn't be far now, we just need to... Wait is that him?"

Among the stands and the clients, the young duct rat was indeed waiting for them, and looked ready to bolt at any moment.

"Ya all wanted to talk to me? Figured I'd rather see you in this crowd rather that in a dark corner, read me? Watcha want?"

A bit surprised, Michelle recuperated quickly and smiled warmly.

"Pleasure to meet you Alonso. My name's Michelle, from the Leaving the Duct association. This is Xuumo-kalashasi, and there is something he'd like to talk to you about.

A moment after giving the door a buzz, a stern turian female emerged, wearing a simple gray robe and skeptical look. "Can I help you sir?" "Not me ma'am, them", Snow gesturing to the twenty duct rats gathered behind him, the turian kid at the forefront as the turian priestess(?) gave the hooded charity worker a confused look, then the realisation hit her, "so you're Julian Snow, you're here on behalf of one Miss Michelle Rondor? If so, we'll give them a place to stay, though I am confused Mr. Snow, why here instead of St. John Paul's?" "I kind of got into it with the Lower Tayseri Elite, I can't risk having them in the crossfire. Besides, this Co-Op territory, you should be fine ma'am." The hard looking young man met the shelter worker's stare, awaiting her response.

"Very well", the woman sighing as she gestured to the duct rats to enter, "but tell Miss Rondor she owes us, and you had better not bring your troubles here again." The woman reacquiring her stern demeanor as the children flocked in, save the top boy who lingered to give Snow a respectful nod, which the ex-salvager reciprocated before turning to leave. Now unhindered Snow began to make his way to the bazaar and warehouse, running from roof to roof with ease, hurdling debris, pipe and crates as he passed the intersection below. Breathing easier now, Snow heard the sounds of the marketplace, slowing up to find a spot to climb down, not wanting a repeat of the first day with Miss Whiskers.

A great sense of relief washed over him. After the slightly surreal turn the day had taken, it was surely time for things to start going his way, and Alonso's appearance sent a wave of relaxation through his tense muscles. At the same time, his hearts began to throb in his chest. This was the moment for which he'd spent more than a year preparing, and now it had arrived it was - he was ashamed to admit - almost daunting. In this scrawny, suspicious child was the key to Xuumo-kalashasi's future. A future that was no longer in quite the jeopardy it had been.

It had been almost two years since he had last seen the boy, during the business regarding his last big arrangement with Pietro. The one that had fallen through at an inopportune time, due to the tragic loss of the human's ship, when his haste apparently got the better of him. Bipeds and their damnable risk-taking!. And the sons and daughters of Dekunna, who knew the value of patience, were left to pick up the pieces. Alonso was his last link to those promising times, and seeing him here, scarred but safe, took a great weight off of Xuumo-kalashasi's back. His decision to stay on the Citadel, to endure the loneliness and the medicine shortages, and the maddening sense of humiliation when no-one understood his ways, had been the right one.

The boy's scalp fur was unkempt and his clothes unsurprisingly dishevelled. He seemed defensive; not surprising in an environment where attention from others usually meant trouble. Indeed, he imagined Alonso had chosen to meet with them here, in an open space, precisely so he had options should his visitors not have his best interests at heart. The boy always was smart. Pietro did a good job with him.

Xuumo-kalashasi stepped forward, and raised a paw. Among elcor - and among those humans who knew a few basics about the culture - it was a sign of polite devotion and respect, showing that one was willing to accept the instability that came with any close relationship. Only three feet on the ground - a minor risk, but a very symbolic one if used correctly.

"Warmly relieved: It is good to see you again, Alonso".

The boy gave him a guarded look, before turning his attention to Michelle. In response to her introduction, and trying to sound less intrigued than he clearly was, he tightened his jaw and then spoke: "Yeah, it's Xuumo. My dad used to know him. What do ya want?"

Michelle launched into another practiced explanation of her role on the station, and her desire to help disadvantaged children. She was apparently aiming to strike a balance between the caring tones that might soothe the boy and the blunt straightforwardness he'd readily respond to. When she turned the conversation over to the elcor - apparently thinking that the offer of shelter should come from Xuumo himself - he took a deep breath and hoped he'd make a good case for himself.

"Solemn: I owe your father a great deal, Alonso. It is in his memory that I came here, and in honour of our productive partnership - of our friendship - that I have come to feel responsible for your safety. With intense relief: When I heard that you had survived, I thought it a blessing of the sky above and the source below. Explanatory: I made my way back to the Citadel to find you. To be blunt, Alonso, I have a paddock at Tayseri Point - a permanent shelter and a home. I would like you to share this dwelling, at least for the time being, and perhaps for some time beyond that".

The boy seemed dubious: "You want me to...live with you?"

"Firmly: Alonso, your current lifestyle is inadequate. It causes me some distress to see you like this. Regretfully: Your father's passing was a great loss, and I feel that loss frequently. He and I were partners for some years, and his business so often became my business.

Careful assertion: I won't lie, Alonso, I'm not going to be the greatest companion or the easiest person to live with; I've never had children of my own. But loyalty and personal debts mean a great deal to me, as they did to your father, and I cannot leave you in a place like this knowing that I can offer something better. Passionate certainty: Your father would not want to see you living like this, and neither do I".

The boy lost some of his attitude; talk of his late father was clearly upsetting. Of course, no child of the ducts would give way to tears so easily; the weak didn't last long in the Citadel's underworld, and no child of Pietro would be prone to excessive timidity. He was frightened, presumably, hence the brash display of anger and the overly-aggressive attitude. In the duct rat life, you stood your ground or you were likely to get trampled.

"They've been good to me", he blurted, referring no doubt to his friends. Another defensive comment, almost challenging.

He could handle this one.

"Understanding: So I have seen. Matter-of-factly: Alonso, things are changing around here. This duct rat culture is not going to survive. There are too many factors arrayed against you, not least of all the gangs. Apprehensively: Ms. Rondor and her associates warned me that some of them might even try to kill you, Alonso, simply out of spite for her efforts at changing the way things work. Anger: I haven't come all this way to see you murdered by some vengeful lowlife when I could have helped you".

Time to extend a more subtle olive branch to the suspicious child. Pietro could recognise some of the emotional cues of elcor scent, and even a few of the body movements; it was possible the boy had been taught to do the same. As he mentioned Rondor, he placed an emphasis on the emotion of weary impatience, the equivalent of "annoying, isn't she?" given as a whispered aside. Usually a human wouldn't be able to pick up such pheromonal cues - or else would dismiss them as background odours - but Xuumo was deliberately over-emoting. Alonso's gaze bored into his own; the boy had apparently gotten the message.

"With sincerity: Ms. Rondor here wishes to change things for your friends as well. But a migration begins with a single step in the right direction, which we must take advantage of. Dangerous undertones: If these gangs think they can harm you when you're living with me, they are in for an unfortunate surprise, I assure you".

There was silence for a long moment.

"Guardedly: Alonso, your father had much to teach you about the galaxy and your potential to make the best for yourself. I can not replace him, but I do know, better than anyone still living, where he planned to take you. With assurance: Although his passing is a tragedy, the life that he wanted to build for you is still within the realm of possibility. Allow me to offer the paw of assistance to my friend's only son. You have a life outside of here, Alonso. Away from these gangs, from these ducts. The life you once led can be yours again. Proudly: It will be a challenge, but then your father never shied away from challenges. For his sake, I will walk on uneven ground for you".

When Xuumo had "whispered" the irritation sentiment about Michelle, the boy caught up. He looked at Xuumo with eyes wide with surprise at first, then realized what the elcor meant and he had to put his hand in front of his mouth not to burst out laughing. Obviously he didn't expect humour from the elcor, and his smile was visible behind his hand.

Michelle was a bit vexed at first, realizing that something potentially insulting was eluding her, but this feeling was quickly replaced by relief when she saw the child smile. Xuumo had taken an important first step.

Xuumo's subscequent speech was, as always, long and monotone, but Alonso didn't miss a syllable. He realized the importance of the situation, and even if all the fibers of his being obviously urged him to flee and hide in a duct, he stayed and listened.

After Xuumo finished, he stayed silent, looking both the elcor and Michelle, uncertain. She came in front of him and looked at him gravely in the eyes.

"Alonso, I know what we're offering you is scary. The pack life is tough, but at least you know it, whereas life with Xuumo is a complete unknown. But I also know you want to try it, because you know it can be better.
And don't imagine for a second I'll just dump you at his place and forget about you. I'll visit you, I'll leave you a way to contact me at all time, day or night, I'll make sure you get settled in and back to school. And if anything goes wrong..."

Michelle assumed a conspiratorial attitude and mouthed "I kick his ass!".

Alonso winced at that last part but didn't comment on it, and smiled at Michelle threatening an elcor twice as big as she was. He asked another question.

"What about my pack... My friends... I'll see them ever again?"

"Yes you will, answered Michelle. For now they had to move, for their own safety, but when things are better you'll see them again and we'll make sure they get the chance to get amazing lives."

Alonso shrugged at that and turned to Xuumo.

"I'm kinda happy ta see you 'gain Xuumo. Ok let's... Let's have a try then."

Michelle smiled and stood back a little, near a stand, giving them some space. She had done it! The first kid steered off the rails to the gang life! Of course it wouldn't be easy. He might try to flee, he might have trouble adjusting to school, he might have a billion troubles.

But he wasn't a duct rat anymore, and that was something.

And there it was. The boy had agreed to give it a try, and accompany him as his ward, at least in the short term. And why wouldn't he? What Xuumo-kalashasi was offering was a chance to get back in touch with whatever shreds of his old life remained to the boy, which admittedly weren't much to write home about. The boy's mother was long gone, his father the only meaningful relative he'd had. Memory and experience were sacred, though, and the humans were just as susceptible to their lure as anyone else. Whatever the last few years had brought Alonso, nothing would have dampened his desire to reconnect, in some small way, to the man he'd lost. Being elcor, Xuumo would never assume that the transition would be easy - for either of them. His mission was not yet over; in fact, it had barely begun. Now came the true ordeal; building a permanent rapport with the boy while enduring the well-meaning authorities as they stuck their little noses into his affairs. He supposed he couldn't blame them. Indeed, their help would be useful; Alonso was a resourceful boy, but he'd need some proper care, and careful moulding if he was going to help Xuumo fulfil his promises.

He gave Michelle Rondor a slight bow, bending his forelegs. The human had proven tougher and more sophisticated than he'd expected, and there was a measure of true respect in his body language and scent, despite his earlier comment regarding how annoying he found her.

"Respectfully: Ms. Rondor, your assistance in this matter will not be forgotten. You have my address, and you can contact me via CDN should you need to.

Reassurance: I will keep my account open so that you may contact me discreetly at your convenience. I am sure Alonso will wish to keep track of his herd-mates as much as you wish to keep track of him.

Self-assuredly: As I have said before, I make sure to repay my debts. You, more than anyone on this station, have earned my gratitude.

With professional detachment: I look forward to working with you again, to ensure Alonso's long-term future".

As soon as he saw Snow approaching, and therefore could rest assured that a spiteful gang leader wouldn't spring out and stab her as soon as he lumbered off, he turned and made as if to leave. He didn't need the male human ruining things with a overly-suspicious commentary. Alonso, though, wasn't quite ready to follow. He gave Snow a quizzical look, and the man nodded to him in return, communicating the fact that the rats had safely reached the shelter. Some humans are more subtle than I give them credit for; this one is, at least.

Apparently satisfied, Alonso gave a respectful nod to Michelle, before turning to accompany the elcor.

It was time to return to his dwelling. Not return home, of course, because home was the open savannah of Dekuuna, not a paddock on Tayseri Point. He would be going home before too long, though, and if things continued to work out he would do so in style.

"Enthusiastic: Come, Alonso. My paddock requires some adjustment if you are to live there with me. Protectively: Your days of running from ganger thugs are over".

As Rondor offered her cheery farewells, Xuumo wondered: What was it about humans? Perhaps it mirrored how their nondescript world, youthful upstart as it was, had winded up as the central nexus of the relay network, orbited by the Citadel itself. Perhaps it was the unseemly haste with which they'd thundered onto the galactic scene. Whatever the reason, it was alarming just how often they seemed to worm their way into galactic events these days, whether those events were large-scale or intimately personal. Now his own future was tied to a human, and linked by chains of responsibility to others of the race. Pietro, you have a lot to answer for.

"Idly: You must have a lot of questions, Alonso. I will do my best to answer them".

And I hope you'll be willing to do the same...

...

(Finish)

"Just my fuckin' luck", Snow grumbling to himself as he arrived just in time to see Xuumo leaving with the duct rat who was the source of all this aggravation, and without a 'by your leave' even. Snow nodding in response to Alonso Curti's greeting as he dropped down to street level, his eyes spotting Miss Rondor by the asari scarf kiosk, dopey grin and ridiculous glasses present as the hard looking ex-salvager striding over to her, the frustration evident in Snow's posture and words, "so that's fuckin' that, not even asking the rat if Xuumo is even on the level? That's just great", sarcastically clapping as he reached the fluffy do-gooder, thinking that if the gangs wouldn't kill them, her naivete would. The two of them just finished doing Xuumo's scut work, pissed off the LTE even more, and didn't even get any real answers from that evasive elcor.

A hundred feet away, a good looking, average built man was watching the odd couple as he finished paying for the bouquet of flowers at the edge of the bazaar. When he saw the hoody and plump woman start arguing he made his move, heading down the street towards the row of flophouses and apts, keying his omnitool on once a safe distance away.

"Boss, it's Randall, looks like my former protege and his employer live to fight another day. Heading over to the Leaving the Ducts office right now...no, I'll be fine, Julian Snow and I go back a spell", the man listening to the reply, "the other rats are fine, they're at the turian shelter. All right, I'll give 'em the message Alystae, call you when I head back." Turning off the com, the man called Randall took a seat by the bistro across the complex where Leaving the Ducts office was located, a self-assured smile on his face as he ordered a salarian juice while he waited, the former DSC runner and charity worker were right where he wanted them, no need to rush.