You have found your way into one of the low places in the galaxy. It doesn't much matter why; maybe you came to lose yourself, maybe you're looking for something that only the ill-reputed locals can provide. No matter what you're looking for, something always finds you here.
That is how you come to meet Darya. She is on watch at the mouth of a wide industrial alley, heavy assault rifle slung loose in front of her - relaxed, but quick to snap to attention. She does this as soon as you approach.
Darya: "State your business."
You: "I-"
Darya: "Wait. I'm sorry. That was too hostile. I... is there something I can do for you?"
[["I was about to ask you the same question."]]
[["A socially-conscious Krogan?"]]
[["No, I'll just be on my way."]]You: "I was wondering if you could help me, actually. I'm looking for-"
A sudden shout erupts from the alley behind Darya. A back door //wooshes// open: you see a female turian (Kyne) backing out with a human woman (Pomeroy) poking at her chest.
Pomeroy (livid): "Well we need to //find// her, then!"
Kyne (conceding): "Trust me, I would love to! But if she doesn't want to be found, there's nothing we can-"
Pomeroy: "There damn well is something we can do. We can scour each fucking back-alley and //drag// her back here!"
Darya (exasperated): "Oh brother. Sorry, stranger, looks like your problem's going to have to wait, whatever it is."
Pomeroy backs the turian into the wall of the alley. When her back hits the wall, Kyne raises her hands in surrender.
Kyne: "I understand that you're mad. I am too."
Pomeroy: "Sure don't seem like it!"
Kyne (sloppily): "Not my fault I deal with it better than you."
Pomeroy (hurt): "Oh, great! Our singer goes missing and //you// decide that's the perfect time to get all high-and-mighty!"
Pomeroy jabs at Kyne's chest once more.
Kyne: "Just high, thank you. Now get that out of my face!"
Kyne attempts to smack Pomeroy's finger away.
Pomeroy: "Don't fucking touch me!"
Pomeroy goes for a punch, but suddenly a blue-white bubble of light engulfs her. She freezes, entirely motionless.
Darya is fully facing them now, her hand lit up with the familiar glow of biotics.
Kyne: "Thank you, Dary-"
Kyne freezes as well, engulfed in biotic statis. Both Kyne and Pomeroy offer muffled protests.
The Krogan sighs deeply.
Darya: "You are both children. You'll never make it if you can't work out a little setback."
You: "Did I hear that someone's gone missing?"
Darya: "Yes, the singer. These two are in a band, Pulsar Power, opening the club here. I'm their manager - and bodyguard, when I need to be. Unless you're attending, it doesn't much affect you. Feel free to move on."
[["Perhaps I could help."]]
[["Good luck with that, then." (refuse quest)]]You: "Since when do Krogan care about seeming hostile?"
Darya: "Since we get stereotyped as cultureless brutes and mer-"
A sudden shout erupts from the alley behind Darya. A back door //wooshes// open: you see a female turian (Kyne) backing out with a human woman (Pomeroy) poking at her chest.
Pomeroy (livid): "Well we need to //find// her, then!"
Kyne (conceding): "Trust me, I would love to! But if she doesn't want to be found, there's nothing we can-"
Pomeroy: "There damn well is something we can do. We can scour each fucking back-alley and //drag// her back here!"
Darya (exasperated): "Oh brother."
Pomeroy backs the turian into the wall of the alley. When her back hits the wall, Kyne raises her hands in surrender.
Kyne: "I understand that you're mad. I am too."
Pomeroy: "Sure don't seem like it!"
Kyne (sloppily): "Not my fault I deal with it better than you."
Pomeroy (hurt): "Oh, great! Our singer goes missing and //you// decide that's the perfect time to be all high-and-mighty!"
Pomeroy jabs at Kyne's chest once more.
Kyne: "Just high, thank you. Now get that out of my face!"
Kyne attempts to smack Pomeroy's finger away.
Pomeroy: "Don't fucking touch me!"
Pomeroy goes for a punch, but suddenly a blue-white light engulfs her. She freezes entirely, completely motionless.
Darya is fully facing them now, her hand lit up with the familiar blue-white of biotics.
Kyne: "Thank you, Dary-"
Kyne freezes as well, engulfed in biotic statis. Both Kyne and Pomeroy offer muffled protests.
The Krogan sighs deeply.
Darya: "You are both children. You'll never make it if you can't work out a little setback."
You: "Did I hear that someone's gone missing?"
Darya: "Yes, the singer. These two are in a band, headlining the club here. Unless you're attending, it doesn't much affect you. Feel free to move on."
[["Perhaps I could help."]]
[["Good luck with that, then." (refuse quest)]]You: "Good luck with your... guarding."
Darya: "Good luck with your... walking."
A sudden shout erupts from the alley behind Darya. A back door //wooshes// open: you see a female turian (Kyne) backing out with a human woman (Pomeroy) poking at her chest.
Pomeroy (livid): "Well we need to //find// her, then!"
Kyne (conceding): "Trust me, I would love to! But if she doesn't want to be found, there's nothing we can-"
Pomeroy: "There damn well is something we can do. We can scour each fucking back-alley and //drag// her back here!"
Darya (exasperated): "Oh brother."
Pomeroy backs the turian into the wall of the alley. When her back hits the wall, Kyne raises her hands in surrender.
Kyne: "I understand that you're mad. I am too."
Pomeroy: "Sure don't seem like it!"
Kyne (sloppily): "Not my fault I deal with it better than you."
Pomeroy (hurt): "Oh, great! Our singer goes missing and //you// decide that's the perfect time to be all high-and-mighty!"
Pomeroy jabs at Kyne's chest once more.
Kyne: "Just high, thank you. Now get that out of my face!"
Kyne attempts to smack Pomeroy's finger away.
Pomeroy: "Don't fucking touch me!"
Pomeroy goes for a punch, but suddenly a blue-white light engulfs her. She freezes entirely, completely motionless.
Darya is fully facing them now, her hand lit up with the familiar blue-white of biotics.
Kyne: "Thank you, Dary-"
Kyne freezes as well, engulfed in biotic statis. Both Kyne and Pomeroy offer muffled protests.
The Krogan sighs deeply.
Darya: "You are both children. You'll never make it if you can't work out a little setback."
You: "Did I hear that someone's gone missing?"
Darya: "Yes, the singer. These two are in a band, headlining the club here. Unless you're attending, it doesn't much affect you. Feel free to move on."
[["Perhaps I could help."]]
[["Good luck with that, then." (refuse quest)]]You (amused): "I'm fairly adept at finding lost things. Sometimes it feels like all I do."
Darya: "Are you sure?"
You: "Ah, sure. Where do you think she might be?"
Darya looks back at the formerly-squabbling bandmates.
Darya (disappointed mother): "Are you going to get along now?"
Muffled sounds of agreement sift through the biotic barriers, which Darya reluctantly disperses.
Pomeroy and Kyne stretch out their stiff muscles, silently embarrassed.
Darya: "When was the last time you two saw Nenya?"
Pomeroy: "Backstage here, an hour or so ago."
Kyne: "Same. She looked anxious, but I know better than to talk to her when she's like that."
Pomeroy: "It's like this every time. We're all nervous, but the only way to feel better is to get it over with!"
Kyne (contemplative): "I didn't even see her slip out."
Pomeroy (bitter): "Now she's probably passed out in an alley somewhere."
Kyne: "We all fight stagefright with substances. I just hope it's not halex this time."
Darya (to You): "I know a way to sober her up if she's messed. Just get her back here and I'll give you a cut of our earnings tonight."
[[ (Investigate) "Has Nenya done this before?" ]]
[[ (Investigate) "Is there anyone she would go to?" ]]
[[ (Investigate) "Why do you think she was anxious?" ]]
[[ "I'll see if I can track Nenya down." ]]
You decide to move on, leaving the Krogan to deal with her bickering charges.
There's a whole galaxy out there - what's one performer? You: "Does she make a habit of disappearing before shows?"
Kyne: "Sometimes, when she gets really anxious. But she always turns up by sound-check - and it's been an hour, now."
Pomeroy: "The openers can only stretch so long."
Darya (incredulous): "Would you believe I took these folks on because they're usually more reliable than your average band?"
[[ (Investigate) "Is there anyone she would go to?" ]]
[[ (Investigate) "Why do you think she was anxious?" ]]
[[ "I'll see if I can track Nenya down." ]]You: "She could be at a friend's place, maybe she lost track of time."
Pomeroy: "Nenya? Friends?"
You: "Ouch."
Pomeroy: "I don't mean it like that. She's too anxious to maintain friendships - I'm not kidding. Half of being on tour is managing her fucking nervous breakdowns. I wouldn't know her if she wasn't the best damn singer in our shithole colony."
Kyne: "I would say that's overstating it - but not by a lot."
Darya: "Besides that, we're on tour - far from anyone she should have ever met before."
You: "Maybe she met someone?"
Kyne: "Maybe. But if so, we wouldn't know about it."
[[ (Investigate) "Has Nenya done this before?" ]]
[[ (Investigate) "Why do you think she was anxious?" ]]
[[ "I'll see if I can track Nenya down." ]]You: "Did something out of the ordinary happen today? Maybe you fought?"
Kyne (sarcastic): "Who, us?"
Pomeroy: "Nothing I noticed. She could have freaked out because her lettuce was the wrong shade of green."
Darya: "Look, that's enough. Nenya has difficulties, but they're not going to improve with sustained mockery."
Pomeroy: "I get it, //mom//. If I can't say this shit to her face, at least I can say it when she disappears before a major show."
Darya (to You): "I would say that Nenya suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder, and that sometimes results in out-of-scale reactions to everyday events. I'm going to book her some professional help when we get back from this tour, but I can't do that if she doesn't finish the damn tour."
You: "Maybe you should cancel the show?"
Pomeroy: "Not. Going. To happen."
[[ (Investigate) "Has Nenya done this before?" ]]
[[ (Investigate) "Is there anyone she would go to?" ]]
[[ "I'll see if I can track Nenya down." ]]You hit the streets. Your trained investigative eye scans each shadowed figure carefully: there, a drug deal; there, a middle-aged couple sneaking away for a moment of intimacy behind a dive bar; there, a shivering old asari with shriveled skin. This woman, old enough to be a respected matriarch, instead seems strung-out.
She also seems like she might know something. Her sunken eyes meet yours with surprising sobriety.
Joivera (mystical): "You seem like you're looking for something. I might know where to find it."
You (clarifying): "I'm looking for some//one//. Have you seen a young asari? She may have been nervous, looking for drugs?"
Joivera (nodding): "I've seen a few like that. And I've turned all of them away, 'cept one. The singer?"
You: "Yes, that's the one. Why did you -"
Joivera: "He wasn't looking for just any drug, my friend."
You: "He?"
Joivera (sighing): "He also said he thought no-one would come after him. I'm happy to prove him wrong. Knock on the door back there, two knocks, then a pause, then three rapid knocks."
[["Asari are female."]]
[["I'll do that."]]
[["How can I repay you?"]]You: "I think you might have misunderstood me - I'm looking for an asari."
Joivera: "I know who you're looking for. Knock on the door and you'll find out what I mean."
You proceed to the sliding door at the end of the alley - it //whooshes// open, and you see a prim secretarial man at a desk. The atmosphere around him is sanitary and minimalistic; you get the sense they could pack up in a hurry if they needed to.
Secretary (enthusiastic): "Welcome! Are you my appointment for 9:30? Mx. Gruber?"
[[(lie) "Yes, that's me."]]
[["What is this place?"]]You: "Thanks for the help."
You proceed to the sliding door at the end of the alley - it //whooshes// open, and you are greeted a prim secretarial man at a desk. The atmosphere around him is sanitary and minimalistic; you get the sense they could pack up in a hurry if they needed to.
Secretary (enthusiastic): "Welcome! Are you my appointment for 9:30? Mx. Gruber?"
[[(lie) "Yes, that's me."]]
[["What is this place?"]]You (charitable): "Have you eaten recently?"
Joivera: "I can take care of myself, little fish. What you can do is promise me that you'll respect that young asari's wishes."
You: "... Uh, sure. I suppose."
Joivera (lovingly): "Get on with it, then! You're clogging up my favourite alley."
You: "Thank you for your help."
You proceed to the sliding door at the end of the alley - it //whooshes// open, and you are greeted a prim secretarial man at a desk. The atmosphere around him is sanitary and minimalistic; you get the sense they could pack up in a hurry if they needed to.
Secretary (enthusiastic): "Welcome! Are you my appointment for 9:30? Mx. Gruber?"
[[(lie) "Yes, that's me."]]
[["What is this place?"]]Secretary: "Excellent! Right this way."
The secretary leads you down one of the clinic halls.
Secretary: "Don't worry, Mx. Gruber - you'll be under for most of the procedure. You'll be a bit sore when you wake up, of course, but as we discussed we'll provide you every possible amenity while you are recovering."
You (examining the bare facility): "Every amenity?"
Secretary (correcting): "Every //possible// amenity. Meals provided, bed too, at no extra cost."
You are spared more information on the procedure as you walk past a room with a young asari consulting with a doctor.
You: "Excuse me."
You break off from the hallway and enter the room.
Secretary: "Hey, you can't-"
You cut off the secretary as you close the door and lock it behind you.
Doctor (proper): "This is a private consultation! Where's your sense of decency?!"
[["My apologies."]]
[["A consultation on what?"]]
[["Showtime, Nenya."]]Secretary: "This is a private clinic. I'm afraid if you don't have an appointment..."
You: "What kind of clinic?"
Secretary (salespitch): "We specialize in cutting-edge gene therapy." (backpedalling) "But all above-board, of course. No genius babies or experimental super-soldier programs here!"
You: "Right. Do you think you could give me a tour?"
Secretary: "Not unless you show me a warrant."
At this point, it seems your options are to turn around empty handed or simply walk down the open hall.
Follow a lead or don't follow a lead. What kind of investigator would you be if you left?
You start down the open hall at a run - the Secretary chases after you.
Secretary: "Hey! Stop, or I'll be forced to remove you!"
Luckily, it doesn't take long before you find a room with a young asari consulting a doctor in a white coat.
You break off from the hallway and enter the room.
Secretary: "Hey, you can't-"
You cut off the secretary as you close the door and lock it behind you.
Doctor (proper): "This is a private consultation! Where's your sense of decency?!"
[["My apologies."]]
[["A consultation on what?"]]
[["Showtime, Nenya."]]You: "So sorry to intrude - but I was sent by people who may be concerned for this young woman's health. Are you Nenya?"
The asari winces at the sound of their name, almost as if it causes them physical pain. Their chest is flat for an asari, seemingly bound by restrictive under-clothing. They are wearing baggy clothes that obscure their figure in general.
Nen (hurt): "I've told them a hundred times. If you wouldn't mind, please call me Nen."
You: "Ah, sure. Are you the Nen I'm looking for? The singer?"
Nen (sighs): "Yes. That's me. They couldn't wait just one fucking hour?!"
You: "They were getting worried. It's almost time for you to go on stage."
Nen looks at the clock, panicked.
Nen: "Oh no, has it been that long?! I must have gotten distracted... Doctor, can I just take the shots on my own?"
Doctor (cautious): "You've already paid, so you can walk out that door anytime you want. But I wanted to discuss your options further -"
Nen: "Okay, bye!"
Nen grabs a case of syringes from the counter next to them and heads for the door.
Doctor: "I truly can't emphasize enough how unorthodox this is!"
Nen: "Welcome to my life, Doc. I've got a show to do - come to the back door, mention to Darya that I sent you, and she should let you in!"
Nen pushes past you and opens the door.
You: "Nen, wait!"
Nen: "You said it yourself, we've got a show to do!"
Nen takes off down the hall - you're left with the mortified secretary at the door. The doctor rubs their temples and grabs a loose stack of paper from the table. They offer it to you.
Doctor: "Here, take this. If that young man won't read it, maybe someone who cares about them will."
[["What is Nen trying to do?"]]
[[Follow Nen.]]You: "What exactly are we talking about, here? Are you sick, Nenya?"
The asari winces at the sound of their name, almost as if it causes them physical pain. Their chest is flat for an asari, seemingly bound by restrictive under-clothing. They are wearing baggy clothes that obscure their figure in general.
Nen (hurt): "I've told them a hundred times. If you wouldn't mind, please call me Nen...
You: "Ah, sure. Are you the Nen I'm looking for? The singer?"
Nen (sighs): "Yes. That's me. They couldn't wait just one fucking hour?!"
You: "Darya was getting worried. It's almost time for you to go on stage."
Nen looks at the clock, panicked.
Nen: "Oh no, has it been that long?! I must have gotten distracted... Doctor, can I just take the shots on my own?"
Doctor (cautious): "You've already paid, so you can walk out that door anytime you want. But I wanted to discuss your options further -"
Nen: "Okay, bye!"
Nen grabs a case of syringes from the counter next to them and heads for the door.
Doctor: "I truly can't emphasize enough how unorthodox this is!"
Nen (playful): "Welcome to my life, Doc. I've got a show to do - come to the back door, mention to Darya that I sent you, and she should let you in!"
Nen pushes past you and opens the door.
You: "Nen, wait!"
Nen: "You said it yourself: we've got a show to do!"
Nen takes off down the hall - you're left with the mortified secretary at the door. The doctor rubs their temples and grabs a loose stack of paper from the table. They offer it to you.
Doctor: "Here, take this. If that young man won't read it, maybe someone who cares about them will."
You take the documents. They read: //Hormone Replacement Therapy In Asari: An Experimental Thesis by Dr. Horatio Kendall//
[["What is Nen trying to do?"]]
[[Follow Nen.]]You (forceful): "Time to go, Nenya. Your band is waiting for you."
The asari winces at the sound of their name, almost as if it causes them physical pain. Their chest is flat for an asari, seemingly bound by restrictive under-clothing. They are wearing baggy clothes that obscure their figure in general.
Nen (hurt): "I've told them a hundred times. If you wouldn't mind, please call me Nen...
You: "Ah, sure. Are you the Nen I'm looking for? The singer?"
Nen (sighs): "Yes. That's me. They couldn't wait just one fucking hour?!"
You: "Darya was getting worried. It's almost time for you to go on stage."
Nen looks at the clock, panicked.
Nen: "Oh no, has it been that long?! I must have gotten distracted... Doctor, can I just take the shots on my own?"
Doctor (cautious): "You've already paid, so you can walk out that door anytime you want. But I wanted to discuss your options further -"
Nen: "Okay, bye!"
Nen grabs a case of syringes from the counter next to them and heads for the door.
Doctor: "I truly can't emphasize enough how unorthodox this is!"
Nen (playful): "Welcome to my life, Doc. I've got a show to do - come to the back door, mention to Darya that I sent you, and she should let you in!"
Nen pushes past you and opens the door.
You: "Nen, wait!"
Nen: "You said it yourself: we've got a show to do!"
Nen takes off down the hall - you're left with the mortified secretary at the door. The doctor rubs their temples and grabs a loose stack of paper from the table. They offer it to you.
Doctor: "Here, take this. If that young man won't read it, maybe someone who cares about them will."
You take the documents. They read: //Hormone Replacement Therapy In Asari: An Experimental Thesis by Dr. Horatio Kendall//
[["What is Nen trying to do?"]]
[[Follow Nen.]]Doctor: "Nen purports to be under stress of consistent gender dysphoria; a condition not so uncommon in the transgender population of other species, but nearly unheard of in the single-sex Asari."
Secretary: "Certainly the first I've heard of. From our conversations, he's been turned down from other clinics." (proudly) "But not us!"
You: "Gender dysphoria?"
Doctor (knowingly): "A horrible sensation with different levels of severity. At its best, it's a simple discomfort with your body as you see and experience it; at its worst, it can feel like a spider's growing from your own skin. Your body feels foreign to you."
You: "And Nen wants to change this with some kind of shot?"
Doctor: "Yes. Theoretically hormone replacement therapy could work the same way in asari as it does in humans, but since there are no 'male' asari we haven't gotten permission from the asari government to test our theory."
You: "Why would you risk telling me all this?"
Doctor: "I'd rather take on some risk myself than allow Nen to go through this without proper precautions and support. You'd better catch up with him."
You: "Thank you, doctor."
Secretary: "Wish him good luck from me!"
[[Catch up with Nen. ]]Nen is halfway back to the club when you catch up with him.
Nen: "There you are! Thanks for finding me. I would feel real bad if I missed the show."
You: "You don't seem as nervous as your bandmates lead me to believe."
Nen: "Well, that's what testosterone will do to ya, I guess."
You (surprised): "You already took some?"
Nen: "Of course I did! I've been waiting years for this."
[["You should read the safety information."]]
[["Good for you!"]]Nen is halfway back down the alley when you catch up with him. Joivera gives you a sagely nod as you pass her.
Nen: "There you are! Thanks for finding me. I would feel real bad if I missed the show."
You: "You don't seem as nervous as your bandmates lead me to believe."
Nen: "Well, that's what confidence will do for ya. I finally have a course of action. I'm going to take some before the show, and soon I'll be a real man."
[["You should read the safety information."]]
[["Good for you!"]]You hold out the papers that the Doctor gave you.
You: "From what I can gather, this is an experimental procedure. You should have all the information before you start shooting up whatever you can get from a //literal// back-alley doctor."
Nen (annoyed): "Look, it's my body. I'll decide what the fuck I inject into it. Someone had to be the first."
You: "Okay, do you know how it interacts with other substances? Do you know how often to do it?"
Nen: "Yeah! Uh... every... day?"
You: "Look, I understand that what you're going through is difficult. And you feel like it's necessary -"
Nen: "It //is// necessary!"
You: "Then shouldn't you take appropriate precautions?"
Nenya still seems unsure.
[["Think about your bandmates."]]
[["Think about everyone else like you."]]
[["Think about your future."]]You: "That's great! The doctor was worried that you might have left before you got all the information."
Nen: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
You: "Okay, do you know how it interacts with other substances? Do you know how often to do it?"
Nen: "Yeah! Uh... every... day?"
You: "Look, I understand that what you're going through is difficult. And you feel like it's necessary -"
Nen: "It //is// necessary!"
You: "Then shouldn't you take appropriate precautions?"
Nenya still seems unsure.
[["Think about your bandmates."]]
[["Think about everyone else like you."]]
[["Think about your future."]]You (caring): "Think about how your bandmates would feel if this stuff made you sick somehow. Not only could they lose you, but the band is at stake too."
Nen (reluctantly): "That's a lot of responsibility. What if I just want to be me?"
You: "Well, you're already doing a good job of that. And I can tell from knowing you for less than ten minutes."
Nen (chuckle): "Thanks."
You: "But I also think you owe it to your friends to be careful. They'll support you if you support them."
Nen (nervous): "I'm not so sure about that..."
Before long, you find yourself in the back alley of the club. Darya's waiting for you.
Darya: "You found her!"
[["You mean him."]]
[["Nen, you should tell her."]]You (caring): "You can be an example for every other trans asari out there. But in order for that to work, you have to be careful."
Nen (reluctantly): "That's a lot of responsibility. What if I just want to be me?"
You: "Well, you're already doing a good job of that. And I can tell from knowing you for less than ten minutes."
Nen (chuckle): "Thanks."
You: "But I also think you owe it to the universe to be careful. Your success story could mean a lot to a lot of folks."
Before long, you find yourself in the back alley of the club. Darya's waiting for you.
Darya: "You found her!"
[["You mean him."]]
[["Nen, you should tell her."]]You (caring): "The choices you make today could change the rest of your life. And I get that you want some things to change - but I think it's worth it to do that as carefully as you can."
Nen (reluctantly): "That's a lot of responsibility. What if I just want to be me?"
You: "Well, you're already doing a good job of that. And I can tell from knowing you for less than ten minutes."
Nen (chuckle): "Thanks."
You: "But I also think you owe it to yourself to be careful. It may be hard now, but it'll never get better if you end up dead."
Nen: "Yeah. Maybe you're right."
Before long, you find yourself in the back alley of the club. Darya's waiting for you.
Darya: "You found her!"
[["You mean him."]]
[["Nen, you should tell her."]]You (brave): "He'd prefer to be called 'Nen'."
Darya (confused): "Sweet stars, you idiot. You could have said something. Warned us, at least."
Nen (anxious): "I'm... I'm sorry. I heard about this clinic here, and I just couldn't wait. Is it too late?"
Darya (sighing): "We switched with the closing act. The headliners just finished. It's a thin crowd this late, but they're ready for you."
Nen (excited): "Goddess, thank you, Darya."
Pomeroy and Kyne enter from the back door of the club.
Kyne: "You found her! Can she... can she perform?"
Darya: "It's 'him' - Nen is trans, and I don't want to hear any talkback."
Pomeroy: "You're kidding, right? Get over here, you asshole."
Pomeroy punches Nen's shoulder.
Pomeroy: "That's for ditching us right before a show."
Pomeroy suddenly pulls Nen into a hug.
Pomeroy (tender): "That's for coming out."
And as the hug is released, Pomeroy punches Nen's shoulder again.
Nen: "Ow!"
Pomeroy (playful): "And //that's// for not coming out sooner!"
Kyne: "Welcome back. Does this mean we're going to need to change our costumes?"
Darya (playful): "Can you? You've always looked like the leakage from a strip-club holo-sign."
Nen (chuckling): "We'll see. Maybe after I switch out some hormones wearing a dress won't make me feel like turning myself inside-out."
Kyne: "I've got some pants you can try."
Pomeroy: "Turian hips, Kyne. I'll dig you out some of mine, Nen, don't worry."
You: "Well, it seems my work here is done!"
Darya (businesslike): "Oh, yes. Can't thank you enough. Here, your payment. And I can get you into the club if you like. They're quite the show - I'm glad Nen's little stunt is bringing them together."
[["I'd be happy to stay."]]
[["No, thanks."]]You (whispering): "You can do it. I'm right here."
Nen (anxious): "Darya, I'm... I'm trans. I, uh... I'm a man. Or, uh, mostly, at least. I disappeared because I was trying to track down something that would help me transition."
Darya (confused): "Sweet stars, you idiot. You could have said something. Warned us, at least."
Nen: "I'm... I'm sorry. I heard about this clinic here, and I just couldn't wait. Is it too late?"
Darya (sighing): "We switched with the closing act. The headliners just finished. It's a thin crowd this late, but they're ready for you."
Nen (excited): "Goddess, thank you, Darya."
Pomeroy and Kyne enter from the back door of the club.
Kyne: "You found her! Can she... can she perform?"
Darya: "It's 'him' - Nen is trans, and I don't want to hear any talkback."
Pomeroy: "You're kidding, right? Get over here, you asshole."
Pomeroy punches Nen's shoulder.
Pomeroy: "That's for ditching us right before a show."
Pomeroy suddenly pulls Nen into a hug.
Pomeroy (tender): "That's for coming out."
And as the hug is released, Pomeroy punches Nen's shoulder again.
Nen: "Ow!"
Pomeroy (playful): "And //that's// for not coming out sooner!"
Kyne: "Welcome back. Does this mean we're going to need to change our costumes?"
Darya (playful): "Can you? You've always looked like the leakage from a strip-club holo-sign."
Nen (chuckling): "We'll see. Maybe after I switch out some hormones wearing a dress won't make me feel like turning myself inside-out."
Kyne: "I've got some pants you can try."
Pomeroy: "Turian hips, Kyne. I'll dig you out some of mine, Nen, don't worry."
You: "Well, it seems my work here is done!"
Darya (businesslike): "Oh, yes. Can't thank you enough. Here, your payment. And I can get you into the club if you like. They're quite the show - I'm glad Nen's little stunt is bringing them together."
[["I'd be happy to stay."]]
[["No, thanks."]]You're inside the club, the crowd pressing in on all sides. The music washes over you, Nen's alto voice over Kyne's bassy drums and Pomeroy's cascading synths.
A smile spreads across your face as you watch Nen on-stage, dancing, grinning mad. He looks at home. You have no doubt that the future for Pulsar Power will be bright as their namesake. You: "I've got places to be, appointments to keep, you know how it is."
Darya: "Well, you should help folks come out more often. I think it meant a lot for Nen to have someone stand up for he- Him. Him."
You: "It's all part of the job."
Darya: "And what job is that, exactly?"
You: "Call it... professional snoop. Nose-poker and universal guide."
Darya: "Keep at it - you're doing good."
With that, you nod and disappear into the hum of the galaxy's crowds. The next task won't be so far off, you're sure - you can only hope it will be as fulfilling as this one.