Gilax screamed and clutched his leg as the shot went off, but his voice was cut short as Firas' talons wrapped around his throat. The Salarian writhed and gargled under the grip as the weapon's barrel was pressed against him. Ashana watched in the burst of violence in silence.<br/><br/>The relaxing of Firas' grip left the alien gasping and wheezing in pain and hysteria. He tried to formulate words through the pain and shock, but only single syllables made it, repeated over and over in vain efforts to speak with no real conscious direction. Ashana wished Firas hadn't acted to bluntly.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Where is the Shadow Broker agent on Illium?</span>She asked coldly, giving direction to the Salarian's beleaguered mind.<br/><br/>The Salarian blinked and looked at them madly. He looked at the shadowy face of the woman and the pain on his face mixed with confusion.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">But you... But you... But you...</span>He gasped out, closing his eyes to block out the pain and formulate words.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">Your not... Sha... Broke... your n...</span>The Salarian winced.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">No, we're not. We're mercenaries and we want to have a chat with the Shadow Broker agent here on Illium.</span><br/><br/>The Salarian's made gaze turned to a weak smile and he laughed through his sharp breathes.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">Then... your already... dead.</span>He grinned cruelly at Ashana, then Firas.<span style="color: YellowGreen">Your... dead. He'll kill you... He'll kill you... for this.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Or,</span>Ashana stepped into the light and crouched down in front of the Salarian.<span style="color: Purple">He'll thank us for putting a bullet in your head. I don't imagine the Shadow Broker likes Salarians that like to talk.</span>The Salarian smiled again and shook his head.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Do you know why we know you know something?</span>Ashana cocked her head to the side.<span style="color: Purple">Its because you talk to much. The first person we asked pointed us right to you.</span>She lied.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">And this isn't the first time you opened your mouth, is it?</span>She asked him.<span style="color: Purple">No, you've had your warning... and you kept talking. And now your in the hands of some very upset people with guns. You know, if I was the Shadow Broker agent and I found out about this...</span>She spun her finger around, pointing out the room.<span style="color: Purple">I would let us kill you and not think twice about it.</span><br/><br/>The Salarian's breath had grown easier, his bodies natural anesthetics beginning to cut off the pain signals to his brain. He stared at Ashana, the smirk gone from his face.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Oh, I'm sorry.</span>She said and pursed her lips.<span style="color: Purple">Am I making sense?</span><br/><br/>The Salarian looked down, then at Firas, and Rajarr, and the knife in Darion's hand, then at Ashana.<span style="color: YellowGreen">Polarius. He's in Polarius towers.</span><br/><br/>Darion spoke up suddenly, declaring that the location had already been checked. The Salarian just shook his head.<span style="color: YellowGreen">No. You weren't looking... in the right place. Secret... facility. Underground. Need special access.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Can you get us special access?</span>Ashana inquired sardonically.<br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">No... Only one woman has... the key. Ask for Serrah U'Vek.</span>The blood running from the Salarian's leg was slowly dazing him, but the blood flow was also slowing.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Just like that?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: YellowGreen">No.</span>The Salarian shook his head lazily.<span style="color: YellowGreen">There are... phrases. Codes. They're all individual... by invitation only. No one... but the client knows the phrase... that will get them in.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Thanks.</span>Ashana patted the Salarian on the cheek. She stood up and looked at the others.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">Well, what do we do with him?</span>She asked as if he wasn't present.<br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Airea looked at Kala with an eyebrow tattoo raised, listening to Kala mostly demand knowledge about the ship she was working on. She nodded in agreement with the last part.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">Not right now, you don't.</span>She said and shouted several more orders at a pair of workers handling some of the ship's components.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">If you hang around, don't get nosy and do your job right you'll find out what all of this does when you need to know.</span><br/><br/>Down on the loading platform a Quarian appeared pushing a large crate suspended above the ground by a loading palette. Shira'Va navigated her way to the ship's airlock then stopped. She looked up at Airea.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">The girls back. She has a box. Did we buy something?</span><br/><br/>The captain's voice responded.<span style="color: Blue">Apparently. Let her in Mickey.</span><br/><br/>The airlock opened and Shira pushed the crate into the ship.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>