[Citadel] The Mixed Front

Kayana took a covert route to the Leaving the Ducts building-it was clear that not only did their security still suck, but the security of neighboring buildings also sucked in a way that just added to the problems. No wonder the LTE had such an easy time.

She wasn't having it. She pushed past anyone who tried to stop her and slammed her fist against Snow's door. "We have a very serious problem. I'm not going anywhere."

It was the drell, and she was angry. The moment the door opened she shoved her shoulder into the doorframe, to keep it from closing. "The LTE raped a drell kid, two levels up? It has taken me a week to get the story out of her. Are you seriously still seeing kids here? Am I going to hear how you can't hire guards?"

Looking up from the sensor readout on his makeshift desk, Julian Snow, disgraced Alliance marine, grey market salvager and now charity worker looked up to see the same abrasive and self-entitled drell from the other day barging in. Glaring up at Kayana Pesh, Snow let her unleash her triade on him about some lizard getting raped, only perking up when she said two levels up. "The middle of Lower Tayseri Elite territory", thinking to himself as the drell finished, before standing up and closing the door behind her. A cold glare eminating from Snow to Kayana as he walked over to the console bank, looking at the readout before replying,

"You coming down here means it was more than just a rape Kayana. Whoever did this, my guess being LTE or someone trying to get in good with them, It happened because of the insanity from the other day. They can't get to you yet, so they try something else, like raping a duct rat to lure you out....and honesty, I'm just surprised it took them this long to retaliate. My advice, report it to C-Sec, and get the hell out of my office, I have work to do."

"No, I don't. And I have to say that's a new one." Kayana Pesh, discharged N7 Irregular in a Thane Krios Memorial Foundation swung one hip to the side, crossing her arms. "How could this possibly be my fault." Her glare was a hot one, and even standing in that fixed position, she boiled, fingers tapping and head jerking to follow his movements.

"Given that your security is still shitty-you realize that drell are levo, right? They weren't careful. She could have died. Am I supposed to refer her to you? Where are your guards!?"

"And what was I supposed to do, go in guns blazing? Make like Blasto? Christ you're the smartest dumbfuck I've met", Miss Rondor had told Snow to keep things civil, but Kayana's entrance blew that plan out of the water, "The lizard wants an education it seems", thinking as he slowly turned to face the irate drell, his grey eyes boring a hole into her head, "The rapist did it to send you a message, 'stay out of our business'. You know how I know, the LTE did the same damn thing to Miss Rondor and I. A 16 year old girl, beaten half to death, just to discourage anyone coming to Leaving the Ducts, and to let me know that if I fucked with them again...well, you get the picture."

The ex-salvager's voice a soft, yet steely rasp as he met Kayana's gaze, as much as he disliked this busybody, she had a grievance, and unless the rapist was dealt with, it would be open season. "So why did the rapist choose her, and how did she know to go to you? Because to me drell, the LTE is trying to draw you out, and you're playing right into their hands. And for the record, I didn't know lizards were levo, I have other priorities than learning about the sexual chemistry of..you people."

"Because they jumped me on your doorstep? I repeat myself: your security blows!"

"I am busy enough with drell rights work. I came in to help you with your computer security-that was pathetic too. I got attacked, and she comes to my temple, they raped one of our kids. Thanks for the warning!" She exploded into movement, hands in the airstalking back and forth across the office.

"Oh, how cute, 'sexual chemistry'. They left semen inside her and she had an allergic reaction you asshole. She survived because we helped her." She got steadily louder and louder as she went on. "She is sleeping on our couches. She is eating our food. You've never even seen her! The oldest she could possibly be is twelve!"

"So tell me what you're going to do about it! Tell me you're doing something! If you can't guarantee these kids security-or at least more security than this, do them a favour and quit!"

"Sit, down." Snow glaring at Kayana, but he wasn't just angry with her. What he told Miss Rondor had come to pass, it was getting worse, and a drell getting raped by some goddamn mandible was proof. He had some ideas but he wasn't about to share them with this 'drell nationalist' until she sat down and told him exactly what happened. "Sit down by the desk, and talk as if you're civilised, not like the self-righteous bitch you're acting like. They raped her because you laid out two of their buttboys and associated yourself with Leaving the Ducts, in their mindset, you are fair game. Apparently you seem to think two rent-a-cops would have prevented this...atrocity, sadly it's not so. All they would have ensured is that the poor girl getting raped elsewhere."

The ex-salvager glaring at Kayana as he spoke, but the personal animus for her was being displaced by a darker need, to hunt this animal down and make sure he didn't do it again. But why was Kayana coming to LTD instead of C-Sec? Snow slowly pulled on his old work gloves from his Andvari days before asking,

"I will ask again, why haven't you contacted C-Sec about this? Or the hanar syndicates for that matter."

"Then hire a proper security firm." She leaned against the back of the chair, exhaling hard. "If I'd known you were in such bad shape that stepping into your building would...I would never have come here."

"Well, fuck you."

"The girl doesn't want to call C-Sec. She's not willing to testify and more to the point, she'd bolt. ...But I called in a tip."

She shrugged, pressing her lips together. "I haven't contacted the Primacy because they deliver social services through the compact system. A kid with no family, with trauma equals soldier or assassin."

"I never mentioned the primacy...I said the syndicate, hanar crime families. I don't know the particulars of your brand of nationalism, but the hanar syndicates get wind of this, the rapist is dead. My guess is, that the lower ranking gangs, including the co-op are going to look for this sonofabitch." Snow replying, grabbing his hooded coat, opening the door leading out to Tayseri. "I have an idea how to find him first, you're not going to like it..." The anger in the shellshocked man slowly disappearing, replaced by cool purpose,

"How far are you willing to go Kayana? Because if C-Sec and the Primacy are out, then we're going to have to pay a visit to Randall. You want justice...I want the one holding his leash."

"...I don't have any connections with the Syndicates."

"Who says I won't like it? I said you needed to shock these people back." She followed after him. "All my oaths are to Arashu. She will not mind if I kill a child rapist. But I need more specifics."

"Very well, on the way", gesturing to the door, Snow pulling on his dark red hooded coat as he and Kayana made their way outside. The last time he tried to brush off her harping for extra rent-a-cops, that it did not go well was an understatement. Making their way onto the main throughofare, Snow turned to the drell upstart, explaining why guards would accomplish fuck-all,

"A private security team is tempting, but against gangs, criminals, and other individuals who know how to fight dirty, it's a zero sum game for a charity, especially on a place as 'civilised' as the citadel. Charities need to cultivate benign trust in the community, and a sweeper team would only hinder that. And if you get the aforementioned security to go on the offensive, it's a matter of time before the likes of C-Sec, the bigger crime syndicates and megacorps involved."

Pausing for a moment before continuing, the ex-salvager's eyes finally meeting Kayana's, a dead looking gaze as he finished for the moment, "a guard contingent isn't enough to deter the LTE, what needs to happen, is the co-op to get involved. I had hoped to wait until the party, but you've forced my hand. I just hope Randall is open to a hunting expedition."

"Oh, bite me, you've completely ignored everything I've said. Forced your hand."

She did up her sweatshirt, rolling her eyes. "Well, I walked through your door and it got one of mine savaged and raped, and for Arashu's sake-she's the kids you're trying to help! I will never give you a credit, not that you care."

"Tell me about this co-op."

"You're partly right, we always have a choice, and I can't put it on you..." retorting to Kayana as the unlikely duo made their way through the crowds. She was right, be damned easier to tell her to go to hell and let C-Sec or the hanar syndicates deal with this, but like it or not, Snow was involved. The LTE, their hirelings, they weren't going to stop, which meant regaining the initative. Not looking at Kayana, the red hooded charity worker gave her his down and dirty assessment of the New Dillinaga Co-op,

"Well, you've already met Randall Erskine, he's the Co-op's enforcer. They're a reasonably smart faction of small-timers, dealing in grey market salvage, knock off goods, loan sharking, protection and small business 'investment'. The core leadership met on earth post-war and decided to get their hands on the low key rackets, using the bazaar to facilitate their schemes. An asari leads the Co-op, but she prefers to send Randall out on initial meet and greets. They're sleazy when it comes to collection and investment, implicating their marks in their plans, but they cleaned up the bazaar, making it a zone of zero tolerance when it comes to drugs and prostitution. As for their numbers, I'd put them about 110, with maybe half full time gangsters."

Finishing the first part of his assessment, Snow turned back to Kayana, awaiting her inevitable questions and ad honeniem judgements.

"Fuck yeah. You'd be blaming me if I'd lost the fight." She kept pace beside him, keeping her head up.

"Ahhh. So I'm getting a: given that they are not psychos, can keep control of their men, and let the duct rats in their employ come to you when they get too tall be really useful...decapitate the LTE and move them in. But what do you have to offer if you're too broke to hire a security firm?" She laughed.

"You are a bad children's charity."

"The rapist, obviously. And you misunderstood my statement about blame, I don't blame you for self-defense, you just seem be unaware of the blowback that can result from that. I'm guilty of that as as well, so don't get pissy, it is what it is." Kayana was correct, with the limited resources that LTD has, extraordinary measures were required. Miss Rondor would not approve of the idea of escalating a conflict, but given the state of affairs, C-Sec trying to rebuild, the Citadel at double it's pre-war population, along with the stresses of reconstruction, everything was spread thin.

"The co-op pays 'taxes' to the hanar syndicate known as 'The Light that Dwells within the Depths', in exchange for free reign on this level. We need to give the co-op the rapist, they'll turn the deviant over to the hanar as a token of esteem, after we get the names of the LTE who sanctioned his presence on Tayseri. It's sleazy and roundabout, but given your antipathy towards the primacy it's the best play we have." Finishing, Snow clenched his right hand out of reflex, Kayana's statement reigniting his anger. The ex-salvager deciding to add one last statement

"Maybe it seems like it to you because you have the delusion that you can save everyone, well you can't Kayana. You do what you can with what you have, with the knowledge it's never enough. And to listen to some smartassed, judgmental piece of shit like you make that statement is insulting to Miss Rondor and what she's gone through to help the duct rats." Snow glaring at Kayana as he let her have it but his eyes revealed a weariness and sadness, that he was fighting a losing battle, yet he was committed.

"You could have warned me. Are you warning them? What about the other drell duct rats?"

She was, evidently, the kind of person who had to jump up and balance on sidewalk ridges. She held her arms out for a second, lost in thought. "You sure that's going to work? I'm sure there's some agreement, the hanar get first crack at recruiting her and any other drell, but: you're trading on race loyalty here, and that tends to go from drell to the hanar."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't try that line on me. I've lost more people than some ever had." She set her mouth in a firm line. "And but for the aid of Arashu, there's a real good chance that the girl on my couch will die slowly."

"I fixed Ms. Rondor's data security. She's not going do the duct rats any good if she brings gangsters down on them like this. She's like, careless. You don't like that, change my mind."

"Lovely how you don't give a fuck about human, turian, batarian, asari, or even salarian duct rats, self-centered bitch. Since you obviously don't want to listen to the facts of life, do me one favor, when we reach Randall, shut the fuck up and let the grown ups do the talking. Don't worry little girl, you'll get your pound of flesh," the ex-salvager snarling the last at Kayana, her self-centered attitude making him wish Officer Cavallius was tagging along, for a turian C-sec officer, he was a delight compared to this self-proclaimed 'veteran'. Nearing the bazaar Snow took an abrupt left, heading for a clutch of warehouses, keeping his eyes on the two duct rat spotters on the rooftops. A block away from the destination Snow turned back to Kayana, his grey eyes boring through the drell as he gave her one last piece of 'advice',

"Let me open things up with Randall, he won't care about drell nationalism, he does care about business and a chance to fuck the LTE over. Talking about the victim to a sadistic bastard like him accomplishes nothing."

She froze in place and flicked both hands upwards-gods, give me the strength to not strangle this human.

"Of course I care about the turian human whatever. But you're the one going on that they targeted her to get back at me." She tapped the darker scale in the center of her forehead. "Wow! Kind of relevant!"

"You know what, I'm going to take that as no. Fucking careless." She held up her hands, sitting down on the bench, listening as he made the call.

Giving the panel on the warehouse door a ring, Snow decided to just ignore the annoying teenager, steeling himself for negotiations with Randall, if he could get in. "Need to talk to Randall, got a business proposition", speaking into the intercom as a light on the panel keyed on, the ex-salvager's query being answered by a surly, Mid-Atlantic accent, "Who's askin'". Tell him it's Snowman, and it's about a hunting trip," the other voice faintly audible as the duo waited, "Hey boss, some red hooded asshole asking for you about a hunting trip, calls himself Snowman." "Show some goddamn respect Desmond, the Snowman was one of my original soliders."

Giving Kayana a mirthless grin, Snow waited for the doors to open, revealing an ebony skinned human, wearing standard Lower Tayseri street gear, black utility pants, button down work shirt and black combat boots. This...Desmond gave the duo a once over before waving them in, quickly closing the door behind them before halting next to an asari and a turian waiting by a table. "Just need to check ya for weapons, don't want to have any misunderstandings." Snow looking around the warehouse, despite it's derelict appearance the co-op had done an impressive job making it one of their main supply hubs, crates of knock-off swag, grey market salvage marked for earth cities, and smuggling containers were arrayed in several rows. Turning back to the blueback smiler and mandible who flanked both Snow and Kayana, the asari carrying herself with a cool competence, the turian with the stiff discipline that they always seemed to have, even the seperatists.

"Do what you gotta do, just have the turian frisk me, I'll be damned if I let the blueback smiler near my shit," Snow slowly spreading his legs, holding his arms out in anticipation for the search, glancing over at Kayana to do the same. At the slur the asari bristled, glaring at the hooded charity worker as she headed for Kayana, the turian turning his attention to Snow whispering to the salvager, "I wouldn't provoke the bitch, even if you're lucky enough to best her, the boss would make sure you'd pay for it." The turian slowly patting Snow down, finding the turian combat talon in his left sleeve, Desmond watching all the while, keeping the comm channel open for Randall, making sure that Kayana Pesh and Julian Snow were on the up and up.

Kayana gave Snow a look, walking over to the Asari with a smirk. "You should hear what he's been saying to me."

"Don't like, take this the wrong way, I didn't know I was coming here when I got dressed this morning." She pulled a stun gun out from under her jacket, dropping it on the table. An expandable baton followed, along with a small utility tool which, of course, included a knife blade. Then she pulled off her jacket and placed her arms behind her head. "That's all of it."

"Sorry kid, rules are rules", the hard looking maiden shrugged, giving Kayana a slightly apologetic look as she frisked the drell with a cool effiency. Her turian counterpart finishing up with Snow, the only other 'weapon' being his reinforced work gloves, the charity worker slowly removing them and placing them on the table, his eyes never leaving Desmond as the doorman finally nodded in approval. "Alright, Arcia, Xinthus, keep an eye on the shop, you two, this way," Desmond gesturing to the two guests, leading them past the crates, heading to a small office at the other side of the warehouse. Snow ignoring Kayana's dig, keeping his game face on as they neared the office door where the auburn haired enforcer was talking to a hulking batarian,

"No, Willard Willoghby is not the name of a holo porn star, he's just some asshole playboy wannabe who doesn't know how to call in his markers. Alystae's had enough and I'm sending you to get what he owes us." Randall looking over at Snow and the drell with bemused recognition before finishing, "It's the standard deal Har'esh, get her the 8000 he owes, and you keep the vig, 12 percent if the kickball we have hasn't changed the rates, and use the money to get a new maintenance app." Clapping the batarian bruiser on the shoulder he turned to Snow, a knowing grin creasing his features as he rounded the desk, Well well Snowman, didn't expect to see you so soon. By the way, we're not hiring, we've got enough legbreakers." A dark chuckle coming from Snow as Desmond took a seat directly behind the drell activist and charity worker, his black eyes observing everything. Taking in a breath Snow began his sales pitch,

"You know I'm out of the life, but this isn't about that, the drell, Kayana here has some info you might find useful, enough to fuck the LTE over I'd imagine, if you're willing to commit." Keeping his voice even and soft, Snow gestured to Kayana, letting her tell Randall about the events in question, along with the implications that it had for the duct rats and the gangs. "Officially we've got a truce with the LTE, so whatever you two have, it had better be damn worth it. So let's hear it kid." The enforcer turning to Kayana, his hazel eyes betraying a hint of curiousity, and businesslike malice.