Ch3 Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Leaning against the large window that made the observation deck above the C-Sec cafeteria, arms folded, legs crossed like he didn't have a care in the universe in that moment, Titus leered down, with blazing violaceous eyes. He watched the troops move about at lunch in their territorial groups. The enforcement sat with their own, as did investigations, customs, network, and special response and patrol groups. But what was more interesting, they were even more divided than that. They also sat in their species group. A few more brazen of the Turian men chatted and flirted with the Asari of their division. But these were no meek maids; these were hardened, commandos. And usually knew how to put down a Turian male gently, or not so gently.

Then there were the Salarian's, who normally seemed more comfortable in customs, investigations or network divisions than being an actual ground troop. They usually bumbled together no matter what their division.

Then there was the tiny group of Humans, sat in the corner seemingly nervous amongst large groups of other species. They whispered, keeping to themselves. Then there was her, sitting in the middle of them all, alone with a table all for herself. A single foot tucked up beneath, her datapad in one hand, spearing her green leafy food with the other, seemingly oblivious to everyone around her and the disapproving glances from all, even her own kind. As if she had a world of her own, where she didn't care about anyone else.

How were they supposed to keep the peace and unite the Galaxy, when even at their own tables in their own offices were split, he wondered?

The doors behind him opened with a familiar hiss before he heard just as familiar flanging tones greeting him. "Titus" Turning his head he spied his uncle, who gave him a salute as was customary when meeting someone who was higher than you in station.

"Uncle Venari" Titus replied back calmly, with a low and a respectful bow of his head. But not with the same formality. He didn't care for these type of things much; his uncle was his elder and would always be so no matter how high Titus had climbed in status.

"How was your journey?" Pallin asked facing his nephew; arms folded behind his back, back straight, not at ease with his family member at all. It disappointed the young Turian slightly, it had been so long since they had seen each other last, he hoped for a little more of a reunion. "Fine" Titus replied as blandly.

An awkward silence passed between the two men for a moment. Titus didn't know what to say and it seemed his uncle didn't know either. But he stared at him intently with a hidden burning passion. "I guess you will want to know why you are here." Venari said finally, breaking the silence.

Titus nodded his head. "If you could. The hierarchy was pretty cryptic in their mission brief"

"As they should be" Venari snorted,  turning his attention to the cafeteria. "It's that human female you were staring so curiously at."

Spirits, his uncle was observant... but then again, hunter by name, hunter by nature.

"She is one of our newest recruits."

"The hierarchy shipped me all the way here to babysit your new recruit?" He questioned the subvocals of his voice displaying a little annoyance. He couldn't help thinking that a babysitting task was way beneath him. Not with all the things he had left unfinished back on Palaven.

His uncle gnarled low and deep in his chest for a moment, warning Titus this was no joking matter.
"That new recruit has raised a lot of concerns" Venari said in tones gravely and dangerous.
Titus moved his frontal lobe plates so one was raised excessively above the other". "Oh? She doesn't look at all that dangerous" Was all he managed to spit out without it being laden with any more annoyance.

"Victoria Shaw -She is an ex-Alliance, a N7 and a biotic, has left a promising career behind her to come slum it out in the Lower Wards."

Titus withheld a look like he wasn't convinced about how the little squishy female had created such a big security alert. Big enough that it meant shipping one of their best to the Citadel to keep tabs on her. "Explain?"
"Think about it for just a moment. The Humans' young and brightest rising star quits and she just so happens to wander here to the Citadel? Things between the Humans and us have always been strained politically, but now they're pushing harder and faster to raise their status. Consider this, there are more Turians here than any other job. All well connected within the hierarchy, an easy source to get information from. Not to mention the two biggest Human names here on the Citadel, have backed her. Not to mention that she has signed up right after that Spectre got her big promotion. I don't believe in coincidences. I believe that she has been planted here."

"I see..." Titus said taking in the bulk of information he was just given. It made sense and he couldn't deny that. But it still did seem a little far-fetched.
"Uncle" it was cautiously spoken, not wanting to upset the old man. "You don't think you are overthinking it, maybe just a little?" His mother has always gone about how her elder brother was on the brink of obsession with the spreading and dominance of the Human race. Especially after the Relay 314 incident. But Titus had never really witnessed it. After his mother had remarried into his father's wealthier and more prestigious clan, his uncle and mother had one last argument about it and never spoke about that again. Then again, they didn't talk much since her marriage, as birthing a Cato offspring carried a large amount of stigma in the Turian society.

He could see his uncle eyeing the unsymmetrical black stripes with their flashes of gold on his face; there was a bit of admiration in his stare and a bit of disgust. Most treated the Cato clan like this. Titus had had a lifetime of being looked down upon, not only for the bold and somewhat ostentatious marks on his face. But also because he was... different.

While most Turians were pale plated, Titus was devoid of all coloration, from his face to his neck, even his body was white. Albinism, they called it. It also meant that his plates were softer, prone to cracking and snapping. A single stem of his crest was missing, a proof of his weakness. Lost during a friendly spar with a colleague.

He was not a fan of hand-to-hand combat and avoided it, if it was possible. Of course, he could have cosmetic surgery to correct these faults, but Titus like his battle scars. It was a memory, a lesson learned. The metallic sheen that most Turians had, Titus was lacking as well. Although, some of it was still there. It meant growing up on Palaven had been difficult, radiation suits in the warmer seasons and creams in the colder ones. His eyesight was poor, to describe it at best - bright light crippled him, turning his striking violet eyes a deeper blue and blinding him from targets almost completely. Of course, he had some cybernetics to improve it, since it was realised he was the worst Turian shot on the force; his shooting had got a little bit better after that. The military had even offered to replace them all together.

But his mother said she loved his eyes, so he kept them for her and adapted, yet another battle to fight through. And if all went to hell, he had his visor, custom Sentry interface, fused to the side of his face that he could click on the dark-blue tinted screen, filtering light spectrum and using infrared if needed. He had got so used to seeing the world in the colours of heat or in electrical pulses, it was a useful thing for a nearly blind Turian.

Being a freak meant he was singled-out at every opportunity, abused and degraded. Perhaps that was why he managed to spot the woman sitting alone in the cafeteria, before he knew that she was the reason he was standing here. Because just like him, she was alienated and lonely. Titus had spent his entire life fighting battles to show he was worth as much, or perhaps even more than the average Turian. But being unmistakable in a line-up had his benefits, spirits be praised. It meant his actions never went unnoticed. He climbed the ranks steadily till it untill now that he was a Major in his own right. He had not let down his proud Cato name.


But orders were orders, and his came from the very top of command. He would not fail his people or his uncle. The Cato code demanded it of him. At least for a while he could have good food and a nice soft bed for a change. "I'll see what I can find out about her…" He replied in cold tones that announced he would start his mission immediately.

That seemed to appease his uncle, who nodded with appreciation at the gesture of readiness. "I'm glad, there is no one I trust more than you Titus. You are intelligent, subtle and not a bad shot with a gun." There was a pause. "We-ell" Pallin continued, oblivious to a gloomy look from his nephew. "At least in the darkness. Well, not total darkness, obviously. The dusk. Or dawn. Well, you know. When there's not that much light…" he coughed and continued. "Not forgetting you know C-Sec and how we go about things. Your old rank of a Captain is available to you, because starting from now on; you're her partner. Make it seem like you're here to guide her. You go wherever she goes, I don't want one aspect of her life where you're not there gone unnoticed by you. I need this- Palaven needs this, Titus..." His uncle seemed to pause, unsure of the words that lingered in his mouth. "I'm glad you're here... Do you understand?"

Titus looked back at the female still spearing her salad, still oblivious about the Turian forces conspiring against her. In a way he felt some sympathy for her. So she was just a balanti* in amongst a pack of venatori**. It was his job to befriend and mimic her, let her know that she had an ally amongst the pack of predators, even though this 'ally' was only wearing the prey's clothing.

"Perfectly" he said.

His uncle nodded and started to walk the opposite direction from where he came, "I'll make her files available to you" he said calling back and shaking his hand dismissively. With that his uncle left Titus to stare at her for a little longer before turning and making his way down to the changing room. He suddenly noticed that he had a headache; yeah, this mission was certainly going to be one.

Once stripped out of his civvies into the way too familiar blacks-and-blues of a Turian C-Sec uniform, his mind started to wonder - how long had it been since he had donned this? It felt like a lifetime ago. He walked into the cafeteria and nodded his head in a greeting at a few familiar faces, which instantly noticed him and hushed whispers excitedly spread his reputation about.

"Wow! That's Major Titus Cato!"
"Yeah the Albino, I heard about him, I hear he smashed an entire Batarian slave empire single-handedly."

But it wasn't long before more negative comments started flowing.

"What's he doing back here?"
"Who knows... perhaps he got dismissed from the military, don't blame him, he's a freak of nature, most likely got to big for his Cato boots. But what can you expect from an albino... he should just know his place-OW!"

There was a sudden yelp from the Turian talking trash about him. Titus turned his head, to see that poor male, rubbing his shin.
"I-I think someone kicked me." He whined, while his companion snickered. "Seems like the Ghost walker is about."

Ghost walker? Hmm, that was a new name, but he certainly had a feeling who it could have been- that didn't matter right now. His goal was firmly placed on the woman sitting alone.

How was he going to handle this? She wasn't an easy person to read and his uncle gave no indications on her personality. So Titus decided to just be himself. Putting his leg up on the bench and leaning on his risen knee, he bent over her.

"Officer Shaw?" he enquired and she flicked her golden eyes, up at him. It almost derailed his train of thought; he wasn't expecting someone so small to hold such a predatory gaze. She was no meek balanti*.

"Cato, Titus Cato" he said thrusting out his hand for her to shake. It was a weird Human custom, highly unsanitary, but he took pride in the fact he knew it. But she kept those golden eyes on him; briefly, she took those eyes off his gaze and slid them down to his hand before going back up to his face. Not even looking, she speared something red in her bowl and ate it, not taking his hand to shake…

Well this wasn't awkward or uncomfortable at all. "Your, new partner" He mumbled, dropping his hand and then rubbing the back of his neck, clearly hearing the laughter of some of his fellow Turians behind him and the low whispers from the humans in the corner. Being partly blind had its benefits; it meant that his other senses compensated although not always to his advantage. 'Who does that Albino think he is?' and 'Does he think he's Casanova?' and finally 'Smooth moves…' which actually made him feel a little better.

It was then that he noticed a little sparkle in her eyes, she was smiling from there. Victoria had obviously heard the comments. Had she done this to entice them? He suddenly felt very foolish and a little angry, that she had the audacity to play him like that. Titus wasn't going to let it sway him.

Especially when she finally spoke. "I don't know why I need a partner, I'm only walking the Presidium, the rookie route." She said before turning her gaze off him and back on her datapad, her tone rude and dismissive.

More awkward silence passed between them, as he waited for her to say something else, but she did not. He kind of understood why this woman was sat alone, she was Batarian unfriendly. Someone who didn't trust you to watch their six.

"Well, you know, sometimes those keepers, start it" He said eventually, his mandibles spreading slightly in a small smile. Trying to lighten the mood; he needed her to start trusting him.
Victoria laughed now, briefly, but at least she did it, setting her datapad down and folding her arms "Is there a reason why you are interrupting my working lunch?"

Spirits, this woman could intimidate a charging Krogan! Where did she learn to be commanding like that, it was unnatural for a rookie? Usually they were so eager to please and so happy to be spoken too, but not this woman. "I just wanted to introduce myself, officer" He said in a growling tone, growing quickly frustrated with her.

"Is that question or a statement, officer?" she retorted, her eyes still smiling, even if her mouth did not. She was trying her best to make him squirm, like some worm beneath her boots. But he had suffered worse, this was nothing.

"Captain, actually. I think I have some reports, to do- one being your assessment of your progress here in C-Sec" he riposted, lowering his leg and taking a step backwards, eyes narrowed in displeasure. Suddenly her eyes went wide, realising the foolish error she had made insulting her superior officer. She said nothing in response her head hung down low, avoiding seeing him altogether. She was ashamed, drenched in it. Good, Titus thought. Served her right.

Turning on the balls of his feet, he made his way back towards the door he had entered through. He didn't look around; some primal part of his brain told him not to do so, or else he would loose the dominance altogether. Still, he couldn't help but feel tense all over. A tiny part of him didn't want to admit that he had met a worthy opponent, capable in her wits enough to nearly make the Turian, who never retreats, back away.

He wanted to have as much material space between him and her right now.

He was just about to the leave scene behind him when an old familiar, but oh, so welcomed voice teased him from the right

"Aw, did the ickle Human hurt the big, bad Turian's pride?" Those tones, both feminine and masculine; there was only one mono-gendered creature in the whole universe, who would tease him like that.

"Leiada" Titus hissed, subvocal's singing in playfulness, as he whipped around to his right looking for the figure where that voice came from. Damn her and that infiltrator suit! The eccentric Asari, who walked around almost invisible, popping out from unexpected places. She loved to sneak about. It was a little strange, but it was well associated with her. Her rank was not as official as his uncle was, but she was so experienced, they made one up for her and few knew about it. She did as she pleased; even Pallin shied away from chastising her. Titus had only seen it done once and it ended up with Leiada giving his uncle a long, cold stare that screamed 'I will murder you in your sleep', before poking out her tongue and telling his uncle to fuck off.

If Titus remembered correctly, his uncle didn't sleep soundly for a month after that.

Leiada was always heard, but never seen. Despite being discreet and passing through the halls of C-Sec seemingly invisible and separated, she commanded presence. If Leiada was butting her nose in your business, you better walk away with her advise, for it was going to save your life.

It used to put him on edge when he was green and untested. Her favourite games included but didn't limit to, popping out of from underneath the desk, in the male shower room, back of the squad car… to scream 'boo'.

But he had learnt a long time ago, that if you watched carefully enough, you could see those cloaked people move, the world shifting and distorting about them like in a hall of mirrors.

There, beside the edge of the door he saw something shift, his eyes homed and narrowed in and he swung his arm in that direction. His gloved hands slammed into the metal with a subdued thud, which made the room fall into a stunned silence. There was a very distinct form of laughter from an unknown source, which in term made Titus laugh, but the tension did not die in the air, not until the Asari huntress decloaked and pushed the Turian's paw from her throat. They stood there for a moment, eyes bright with warm smiles.

They both took in each other's appearance. They were clearly old friends and this display of sudden violence was a game, part of a bigger inside joke, the tension died and the room once again bustled with its usual murmur of conversations.

Taking his old friend by the arm and led her out all the same. He could tell from the piercing way her blue eyes were staring at him, she was dying to ask him a million questions. Despite being well into her Matron years, the second life stage of the Asari, if he remembered correctly, Leiada was not one wanting to settle down, and still carried herself with the brash recklessness of her Maidenhood. Titus held a suspicion that this was why she had never returned to Thessia and remained here at C-Sec, but he didn't know the details of things that led her to this situation her past was locked away in secrecy.


"Hey, T.C" she said as she drew her eyes from his legs to his face, a smirk on her face as she shifted weight to her hip.


'It's a trap' he reminded himself as he appreciated her form with equal measure. Despite the pleasing, exotic dancer shape of the Asari in front of him, he knew better than anyone that this huntress was no more soft and feminine than he was a Hanar's uncle.

"Lei" he drawled out long and hard, turning his head to the side to look at her with one eye, knowing fully well she hated that nickname and anyone brazen enough found a hardened fist to the face. It had been her who had snapped his crest. His mandibles drew wide as he recalled the memory; it had been a good night that night. "Ghostwalker, huh? That's a new one."

"Shut your mouth T.C! Only because I haven't seen you in forever, I'll spare you the trip to the med bay" she restated bemused. "And don't thank me for that idiot I kicked. He got it coming."
Leiada was a deadly warrior, skilled in infiltration; she worked meticulously and almost without regard for the safety of her victims. Spirits bless the names that crossed her desk, she always got her man.

The Asari made the finest warriors in the Galaxy; Leiada was proof of that, fortunately there were not many of them. He laughed heartily, suddenly relieved to see a friendly face, his not so pleasant encounter with the Human recruit washing away.

Once out of earshot she shrugged free her arm from his grasp and leaned up against the wall, folding her arms and with a look of smugness in her eyes. A look that he couldn't quite place the meaning of.
"Don't worry about the ice princess in there… She does that to all the males; she got a hard time her first few days, from the Human fetish fanatics and the Humans" she said, and a groan echoed in Titus' chest, bringing back that awkward and horrible encounter. But before he could stop her, Leiada continued "Can't say I blame them, she's stunning, fills out that uniform in all the right places." She said with a dreamy smile across her face and a grin hinting at the images flashing across her mind. He answered solely with a laugh "Can't say I noticed."

"Huh, sure! Come on, T.C, you're not even a little bit curious to see what the human flavour can do?" She teased, pushing the subject.

Titus was a little more relaxed than other Turian's, mainly due to the poor company he kept on the Citadel - that company mainly being Leiada…and the fact a freak was not deemed suitable for mating, in case he passed on his deformity. Still, he never really found Humans that attractive, mainly cause his imagination didn't lead to a scenario where the Human participating didn't end up horribly maimed and him having a serious allergic reaction. Titus was allergic to his own kind's food; he couldn't imagine what throwing unsuitable alien bodily fluids would do to him. "If I find one I like I'll let you know" he threw back at Lei, which just made her smile wider spread.
"Well, there is the ice princess and you'll be spending sooo much time together" This Asari was relentless. "Who knows?" she said with a shrug "Your smooth charms and rugged good looks might even make her melt."

He rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms trying to move this conversation as far from that subject as possible. "I'm sure there is a rule that forbids fraternising with other officers," he said in his best officer voice, which made Leiada grin even more, that he could see her white, blunt teeth and mischief twinkling in her eyes. "That never stopped us T.C," she stated in soft, sultry tones. Ah, he wondered when this would come up.

She was younger, he was young, and they really had nothing in common apart from liking to bait each other as much as possible, which was only because of the sexual tension between them. It wasn't a relationship, just two C-Sec officers too busy to find something else. It eventually fizzled out, but they remained on good terms, perhaps better terms than he imagined, if his body language skills were anything to go on by.  He stepped a little closer, bending down so his eye level was a little closer to hers. "Well you are a very special Asari, more durable" he taunted back, drawling long and hard over the key words.

She laughed and punched him on the shoulder, pushing him back "Goddess, you make me sound like an M15 Vindicator!"
His mandibles flared wide, he couldn't believe she walked right into that one. "Yeah, why not? Old, reliable, pierces through armour, makes a lot of noise… Sounds about right!"
Leiada flushed a deeper shade of blue in her face, in anger more than embarrassment. "Who are you calling old, T.C!" she seethed.

Raising his hands in defence he laughed. "Ok, ok, calm yourself, Lei, I'm not looking for a one-way trip to the morgue!" The Asari seemed to become restful at that, her pride soothed by him reminding that she could easily turn him into a smoking crater.

Things became peaceful now, Leiada seemed more relaxed. "So…" she said quietly, her eyes flicking about to make sure they were alone. "What happened to your big fancy job in on Palaven? I heard you were doing well there. Now, I am curious about why you had to drag your sorry ass back here?" she stared up at him, with inquisitive eyes, but he had a feeling she already knew, she always knew. Despite her playful charms, Leiada was the best at finding out everyone's dirty little secrets. She was sharp and intelligent; all her long years of life had shaped her into cunning and wise woman beneath the playful badass she liked to act like she was.

"Classified" he said quickly, looking away from her, but Titus saw her slink away from the wall, fluid in her movements, like running water.

"Pretty fancy way to say 'mind your own business'" she joked, but wasn't going to push the subject further. Not yet. "Well, I'm sure it's to do with your pairing with the Ice Princess. Good luck with that one, seriously" She said waving him off, that familiar sway of her hips, before she turned her cloak back on and vanished out of sight. What a strange Asari she was, he would never get used to that.

Looking back at the door that led to the cafeteria, Titus had a strong feeling that he would need all that luck she wished him. Spirits help him.