[Zakera]Zakera by Night

Agnes smiled coldly.

"Actually I'm afraid your dressed won't allow you to... mingle enough. My employer bought a selection of human dresses accessories and suit covers, they should be at your size."

She called on her omni-tool and a thug-looking turian came in, transporting various items of clothings and accessories. He laid them visible on the desk, and gave a dress and a little box to Agnes, who nodded to him.

"Make your choice, you have changing rooms over here. I'll change myself. We have half an hour to be ready, it should be more than enough time."

Lear looked from Tanya to Agnes, feeling rather... out of place, being the only Quarian in their group of three (Only male too).

"Is there anything else we should know? What to avoid? Additional things to grab? Additional hazards? Last minute security details?" Lear continued rambling on, and on, and on. He was nervous, and couldn't help asking every doubt he had on his mind. For him, there was a lot invested on this. Mission goes wrong, no information for Lear. Simple as that. Everything had to go as planned.

"I'm afraid I don't know much more than you do", said Agnes from the changing room. "I know it will be in a three stories mansion, there will be a gala, and there will be security guards patroling. For the rest I actually assumed one of you two would do some recon."

Lear nervously wrung his fingers. He had done some recon, but it had been fairly short, and he hadn't liked what he saw.

"I managed to find the place, but... They were upgrading their security, so I couldn't get too close. I think I saw them moving on of those YMIR mechs though, so that could complicate things if we got caught... Otherwise I couldn't see anything else." Lear hadn't encountered YMIR mech's firsthand, but he knew enough about them to know if they got caught and ran into it, they'd either be arrested or dead.

He didn't know about these two, but Lear didn't really like either of those options.

Tanya returned from the dressing room, dressed in a nice designer dress. It was a pity she probably couldn't keep it because she looked hot in it. She spun once to admire her appearance. Yep, this would do just fine.

At the quarian's words the smile fell from her lips.

Quite calmly she said, "That's not good."

Agnes frowned at Lear's explanation.

"Well at least you found it beforehand Mr Kaus, so good work on that. I don't imagine they'll have that noisy behemoth walk along the guests all night. My bet is that it's waiting to be activated if the alarm is tripped. It's up to us to make sure that it isn't. Another possibility would be to play it safe and see if we can't prevent it from being activated at all, just in case. Your call."

She then smiled appreciatively when Tanya came back.

"Fits you like a glove Ms Tish, you clean up rather nicely!
OK, well if that's all, let's get going", she simply concluded.

The little trio went on foot to the mansion, not far from here. It had the appearance of a small spire, the two first stories were living quarters, and above was storage. Many socialites were lining up in front of it and two asari commandos were checking everyone's invitation and identity.
Agnes got a little tense when she was scanned for identity, but her and her associates passed without problems and got in.
They were guided through an antichamber to a beautiful and vast ballroom (ok, not that vast, but it looks like it) where every invitees was mingling, some of them dancing. Most races were present, and the mistress of ceremony was in the middle of the room, surrounded by people drinking her words.
A dozen asari commandos were covering the exists, monitoring the guests' moves, but not hindering them.
An old krogan in old battered armor and what seemed to be a ceremonial headband moved towards Agnes, Lear and Tanya.

"Hu hu, welcome people! Never saw you at one of those before! I'm Jorgal Martok, petit four expert, at your service."

Lear looked around as the trio walked in, wondering why anyone would need a house of this size. He remembered stories he'd been told about asari commandos when he saw them, and was now 100% convinced that, if they got caught, this would be the death of all three of them. Lear kept looking around, keeping note of small details like how many guards were in the room, where the largest groups of people were, and what would be the best way to cause a distraction in case they needed to bail. His view was, however, now blocked by a fairly old Krogan.

"Hu hu, welcome people! Never saw you at one of those before! I'm Jorgal Martok, petit four expert, at your service."

Lear stayed silent at his words, staring at the aged Krogan.

You know... Somehow, I just knew I would die like this.

To Lear, the Krogan were the scariest things in the known galaxy, simply because they were known for Blood Rage, and being rather destructive. Those two put together, along with the stories Lear had heard about them basically nuking their homeworld (Something he still didn't understand) and you've got the combination for one highly irrational phobia.

Besides, it's not like he had a reason to associate with a Krogan.

Against his better judgement, Lear didn't turn around and run, screaming and crying at the top of his lungs. No, instead he stayed where he was, hoping that the Krogan wouldn't notice him, and hoping he'd leave as soon as possible.

Tanya on the other hand smiled broadly at the genial krogan, extending a tentative hand in greeting. The quarian had frozen and she resisted the urge to sigh or elbow him.

"We're quite new to the Citadel, only just spreading my wings socially," She kept the cheerful smile, "You know how it goes." She subtly brought the fellow's attention to her rather than the frozen quarian.

This was going to be a long night.

"Anyone you suggest we'd meet?" She asked.

Agnes was not happy with Lear's reaction, fortunately Tish's was exactly what was needed.
- Yes I do! answered the krogan, smiling wildly. Before I became a party tyjak I was a hunter on tuchanka, and you know what I learned here? A wild beast may want to tear your flesh, but at least it'll never offer you a rotten dish and rotten gossips!
With that he started laughing. Agnes joined him with a polite chuckle, during which she turned briefly her head to Lear, and looked at him intently, freezing her smile and widening her eyes.
She had no idea if the quarian would get the social cue though.

- Anyway, said Martok, about the people you should meet... Here you have assemblywoman Tarina, she's an old shrew but she knows everything about everyone.

He was pointing to an asari, obviously close to become matriarch, with a skin which tone was a clear green, almost grey. She briefly looked at the newcomers.

- If you want to have a good time, over there is Palitus. He used to be this rich guy, but he lost everything during the war. He still gets invited at all the parties because he shows us a good time, and he's always bothering Tenlion, buzz killing high ranking C-Sec guy, which everyone appreciates.

He gestured in the direction of a disheveled turian, whose facemarks were remarkably unclean and messy. He was at the end of telling a joke which made everyone laugh, except the salarian next to him, in C-Sec uniform. Obviously the joke was indeed at his expense.

- Ho, and of course at some point you'll need to say hi to the mistress of ceremony, Manela herself. She's a true Sanves flower. Beware of falling in love at first sight, it's a common affliction she causes that one!

Martok noticed a volus waiter passing by him with a plate of delicacies, he promptly grabbed him and emptied the plate in his large mouth, groaning with satisfaction.

"Y-yes! New to the Citadel... Spreading wings... Yeah..." Lear nervously laughed as he rubbed his left shoulder, uncomfortable at being forced to socialize. If there had been any other way to get what he had wanted, he'd have gladly taken it over this, even if it meant wrestling wild Varren... Okay maybe not that, but it made the point. Agnes turned around and gave him a look that (in normal circumstances) would have made him run off screaming that she was a psychopath out to get him.

These were not normal circumstances, however, so he'd settle for avoiding her like the common cold after this mission-type thing was over. The Krogan procceded to point out several people of interest (although he didn't understand what made them so interesting), and Lear wasn't sure if a Quarian at a party on the Citadel (a rather high-end one, by the looks of things) would be suspicious or not. Regardless, Lear listened intently as the Krogan continued, wishing his suit was incapable of being a bathroom so he could use it as an excuse to leave the immediate premises.

"- Ho, and of course at some point you'll need to say hi to the mistress of ceremony, Manela herself. She's a true Sanves flower. Beware of falling in love at first sight, it's a common affliction she causes that one!"

Lear immediatly tilted his head at the Krogan. Sure, the Asari were a beautiful race, but Lear saw them as he saw everyone else: People. That, coupled with the fact that trying to have a relationship with anyone could quite possibly kill him, caused Lear to doubt there would be any "falling in love at first sight" coming from him if they met the hostess.

After watching the Krogan horrifically down an entire plate of delicacies, Lear shook his head to snap out of his terrified daze.

"If it's not too rude to ask, might I inquire as to where our "Mistress of Ceremony" is? It would be terribly rude if we did not even bother to introduce ourselves to our gracious host, and if there is one thing I refuse to be known for, it is for being rude." Lear watched to Krogan intently, now looking much more confident. Back straight, shoulders straight. Gone was the formely terrified, nervous and cowardly Quarian!

Too bad Agnes and Tish would more than likely see it for exactly what it was: A False Front out up to fool the Krogan. Whether said Krogan actually believed it, however, was another matter entirely.

Tanya's urge to facepalm while sighing with complete and utter frustration as the quarian bumbled about. Seriously, why was her employer sending this guy on a mission like this? She was just hoping he wouldn't get her killed. She didn't particularly like the idea of dying.

Then he pulled on a facade of calmness. She watched him dubiously. If he cracked, she'd kill him first.

She smiled again at the krogan, "I'd love to meet her!'

This guy better have an idea of what he was doing.

The krogan was puzzled by Lear's reaction at first, but his question, seconded by Tish, gave him a devilish grin. He then pointed to a corner of the room. The three teammates had to turn around to see.
Manela was unmistakable, with the most intricate dress of the evening that made Tish's or Agnes' look like potato sacks. She was in front of an animated mural showing Sunves' skyline, and was talking to a few guests. She briefly looked in the direction of Agnes' group, and smiled to the krogan, who chuckled gingerly.

"Come on", Martok said, "I'll introduce you".
"Not me thank you, replied Agnes smiling, I'm afraid I have people to meet for now, but I'll be sure to join you later!"
She then left in the crowd. Tish's and Lear's communicator activated soon later.
"Sorry about that", said Agnes, "but I'd rather we're not all spotted together for now."

The krogan then took the two mercenaries' hands in his own giant paws and "guided" them to the asari.
He interrupted the salarian who was talking to her by a vibrant "Hey Manela darling, let me introduce those two. The quarian one is squeamish but they look like fun people!"

Manela laughed at Martok's exuberance while the salarian was livid at the interruption.

"Well... Hello then! As our friend mentioned my name is Manela, and I'm pleased to meet you."

Lear almost cried as the large Krogan grabbed his hand, as well as Tish', and dragged them along.

Why the hell didn't they stop me from coming up with this horrible, horrible idea?! I don't want to meet the hostess! That was an act so we wouldn't get caught! Why didn't they stop-

When the Krogan stopped pulling, Lear looked up to see the mistress of ceremony. Lear was one hundred percent certain he wasn't falling, but it was love at first sight.

Focus, Lear. Mission first. If this doesn't go south, then try to impress the beautiful Asari.

Lear gave a small bow before looking at the Asari.

"I am Lear'Kaus. It is a pleasure to finally meet the one hosting this rather splendid party." Lear straightened himself out, looking rather competent and confident to anyone who didn't know Lear and his quirks. Quickly turning his communicator on (and making sure he wasn't heard outside his helmet), he quickly got Agnes on the line.

"Since you aren't occupied, maybe try to find a map of this place. The less we have to look around for what we need, the better." Lear turned the communicator off, returning to the conversation around him.