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Authors Note:

Hi, thanks in advance for having a look at "The Lost Sister" just wanted a quick word with you before we begin. One of the amazing things about the Mass Effect story is how personal everyone's experience is, with this in mind I wanted to clear up a few points as Shepard (who makes a couple of appearances in this story.) maybe an unfamiliar character to people who played the game differently to me. (I'm talking mainly to you Renegade players here. How could you!) So below is a quick list of how the galaxy is setup in this fan-fiction. Some of which is irrelevant to the story but just for reference.

Shepard is full on Paragon and takes all choices with this in mind.

Shepard is a male soldier born on Earth and has the War Hero background

Shepard did not romance Miranda but stayed true to Ashley Williams (Awwwwww)

All team members from Mass Effect 2 survived

Wrex leads clan Urdnot

Kaiden Alenko died on Virmire

Ok got all that? Good, now make sure you're sitting comfortably and lets go.

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Chapter 1

Miranda watched Shepard get into the elevator in the Citadel docking port. He was disappointed in her, he didn't say it but she knew he was. It had been the first time she'd seen him since he handed over the Normandy and himself to the Alliance. Now here he was six months later rescuing Turian Generals from the invasion of Palaven. He'd wanted her to join his team. God knew he could use people as talented as her on his side, so difficult and treacherous was his self appointed mission. But he didn't understand, how could he? He'd been an orphan growing up on the streets of some city back on Earth. He'd never had a sibling, someone who's life mattered more to her than her own.

Shepard's elevator zoomed up and out of the level and Miranda thought, not for the first time how lucky the human race, hell, the whole galaxy was to have him leading the fight against the Reapers.

It almost didn't happen though, how many times had she considered giving up on his mangled corpse over those two years, as the Lazarus cell fought to bring him back to life. The first day, she remembered having a conversation with the Illusive man. She'd never failed him before but even then, having seen what was left. Well she was good but she wasn't god. Still she'd persevered, collected the best equipment and personal that credits could buy, two years later he woke up and then she was taking his orders. It really is a funny old galaxy.

She leant on the balcony and gazed up at the Skycar traffic as life continued uninterrupted on the Citadel. At least for the moment. She'd seen the truth about this war, she'd fought with Shepard and the team against the Collectors. This wasn't a war for conquest or ideals. The Reapers where here to exterminate everybody, even the Citadel wouldn't remain safe for long.

Two C-Sec officers were starting to look at her. One of them, the Human, whispered in his Turian colleague's ear. Miranda sighed, that was the problem being one of the most wanted people in the galaxy, never a moments peace. She waited till a bystander wandered passed blocking the line of sight and nimbly flipped herself over the balcony edge and into the active Skycar she'd stashed there a couple of hours ago. First rule of undercover work. Always have an escape route. She engaged the engine and dropped quickly into the traffic stream. No doubt the C-Sec officer would soon forget about her. After all what where the odds the former Cerberus number 2 would be hanging around a docking port?

She heard her communicator chime softly in her head. Finally! She'd been waiting for this call. She answered.

'Miss Lawson?' Said a voice in her ear. 'Yes', she replied simply.

'You'll be happy to hear that your credits have been received. I am to tell you we have located Mr Ryans for you, he's rented himself a rather splendid apartment on the Zakera Ward. I'm sending the address to you now. A pleasure doing business with you Miss Lawson.' And with that the call was cut. Information brokers had a shady reputation here on the Citadel, but if you needed to find someone fast there really was no better way. With one hand on the steering wheel she checked her Omni-tool and saw that the Information broker had indeed sent her an address. The Kobi district, she thought. Mr Ryans was going up in the Galaxy.

Ryans had popped up on Miranda's radar a few weeks back. Suspicious that Oriana hadn't contacted her, she'd starting using some of her contacts on Illium to check up on her. Even then she'd had the feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong. Sure enough word got through to her that Oriana's entire family had decided to move house. Miranda had put safeguards in place for something like this, it shouldn't be so easy for them to move without her knowing exactly where and how safe the neighbourhood was. She'd spent countless hours trying to trace them, but they'd gone completely off grid. Ori's adoptive parents were simple folk and would have no chance of avoiding someone as clever as Miranda. It had felt like ice water pouring down her back. Her father had found her, she didn't know how but he did. That's when she found Ryans' name. He was a young single man living not three doors down from Oriana and her family, then a week before she disappeared, Ryans had won big on some kind of Lottery and was flying off to the bright lights of the Citadel. Miranda had been in the game long enough to know there was no such thing as a coincidence. Ryans was her only clue and so help him he'd better know something!

Miranda flew towards the address trying to fight the feeling of fear away. She would find Oriana before it was too late. She just had to.

# # #

The Kobi district housed the movers and shakers of the Zakera Ward. Bankers and Salesmen mingled with the political elite among the exclusive bars and clubs that dotted the streets. In many ways life here was as dangerous as the lower levels. Enough credits bought yourself a different kind of law enforcement and more than one incident had been labelled a "tragic accident" and quickly swept under the carpet. Here's a few credits for your trouble officer.

Miranda parked her Skycar a few blocks down from her target. She wasn't sure how smart Ryans was. He may have been warned about her, in any case that Lottery win of his could probably buy some pretty hefty security. Opening a compartment in the Skycar, she took out the pistol she'd smuggled in past customs. (probably a bit too easily in a wartime atmosphere. Maybe an anonymous note should be passed to them detailing a few of the clever ways smugglers could get weapons in. A bit counter productive considering the circumstances, but the less nervous people armed with guns the better. Besides, she enjoyed a challenge).

Throwing a brown jacket on she raised the hood and kept to the side of the buildings as she made her way to the apartment block. Even here in the plush Kobi district you got vagrants, people of all species who'd tried to make it in the Citadel only to find themselves cleaned out and on the streets. For every success story here 50 people didn't make it. The residents had long ago learned to just ignore the less fortunate, which suited Miranda fine. The less eyes on her the better.

Ryans' apartment block was called The Crystal Tower and it rose 72 floors into air. On the Wards the breathable atmosphere only extended up about 7 metres meaning that these skyscrapers were air tight. No chance of getting in that way. The Reapers had built the Citadel to last, she doubted ramming her Skycar into the side of the building would even make a dent. She hid in the shadows of the building opposite to scope out the main entrance. Her keen eyes evaluating the people walking in and out. Then she noticed the Skycar.

Parked a block down it was entirely unremarkable and therein lie the suspicion. Every other Skycar in the vicinity was a top of the line model. The residents here wouldn't dream of having anything less. So what was this 8 year old Santel F12 doing here? A Turian in casual clothes stood by it apparently engrossed in the datapad he was holding. Miranda was smart though and to her practiced gaze everything about the Turian screamed merc; from the way he held his body, to his gaze flicking round and sizing up his surroundings.

Miranda walked over him effecting the hobble of some poor injured soul lost in an uncaring universe. Putting on a local accent she spoke to the merc. 'Could you spare some credits please kind sir?' The Turian barely looked at her. 'Get lost!' He barked at her and raised his arm as if to strike her. Miranda showed a fearful face and scurried away. She'd seen what she needed to; when he raised his arm a tattoo was clearly visible there. Blue Suns. Every member of the mercenary group carried the gang tattoo. What were the odds he and his team weren't here for Ryans as well? Looks like she had less time than she thought.

Out of sight of the Turian she discarded the jacket and walked confidently towards the Crystal Tower main entrance. Sometimes the frontal approach was the best approach. Dressed as she was in her skin tight lacquer armour Miranda cut an imposing figure as she stalked across the lobby. The room was full of people, it was early evening no doubt they were all set for a nights entertainment in the Citadel's many drinking establishments. Keeping her eyes straight forward she walked to the elevator with purpose. A member of staff, a Batarian in an expensive suit, made as if to head her off but on second thoughts decided that she was the kind of trouble that was above his pay-grade.

Miranda entered the elevator and hit the button for the 18th floor, Ryans' apartment. The elevator rose smoothly and within seconds reached it's destination. Miranda stepped out, a cursory glance saw that the corridor was clear. Good. She put one hand on her pistol. Apartment 2376 was the third on the right, she pressed her ear against it and heard voices within. She knocked hard on the door, a Turian opened it part way, to block her view of the interior. 'Yeah? What do you want?' He said.

Miranda activated her Biotics. Smokey blue light emanated from her body and she lashed out with a Biotic punch. It lifted the Turian through the air back into the apartment slamming into a large sofa, knocking it over backwards, and coming to rest with his head in an unnatural angle. Miranda stepped into the apartment pistol raised and took in the scene before her.

Two Humans stood staring at their colleague open mouthed at their feet was a third who was lying on the ground with thick ropes binding his hands and feet, a fabric gag in his mouth. Mr Ryans I presume she thought to herself. The two standing men raised their weapons, but Miranda was far too quick for them. she fired four times in quick succession, the two men fell dead.

Miranda avoided the pleading eyes of the stricken Ryans and quickly closed the front door. No sense panicking the whole building. Ryans had been busy in this place. Various art and ornaments decked the walls of the home, a large display screen dominated the lounge. She walked back over to Ryans seeing the relief in his eyes and wandered whether in about 5 minutes he'd rather take his chances with the Blue Suns.

# # #

Ryans struggled against his bonds, he was a skinny lad with dark hair and an almost malnourished look about him. Even on Illium poverty remained a problem.

Miranda removed a large knife from her boot and approached the wriggling Ryans. She deftly cut the cords around his hands and feet, he then took the gag out.

'Oh god thanks,' he stammered out 'I thought I was Varren food then.' Miranda gave him a look of cold indifference.

'Shut up and sit over there you little shit,' she said. The fear returned to Ryans' eyes, wordlessly he did as he was told and sat on the smaller sofa, his eyes darting at the entrance as if entertaining the idea of running. Miranda positioned herself between him and the door to discourage the idea.

'Why were these men trying to kidnap you?' She demanded. 'I… I don't know. I've only been here a few days, they knocked on my door, said they were couriers next thing I know I'm on the floor all tied up.' Miranda was very good at reading people and Ryans' eyes showed nothing but truth. This was perhaps one mystery that would have to be solved later, right now she had more important things to discuss with him.

'What happened to the Smith family back on Illium?' She said, Smith was Oriana's adopted family name. Ryans went white. 'They moved didn't they, people move all the time.' Now that was a lie, Miranda could see it all over his face. She moved forward like a snake and plunged the knife deep into the sofa right between his legs causing him squeal in terror, her face was now just inches from his and when she spoke it was calm and even.

'Listen Ryans, if there's one thing that I hate more than anything else it's having to repeat myself. Now I'll ask you one more time, from the top, what happened to the Smith family?'

'Ok, ok. I was out at the clubs on Illium and this private investigator was drunk and talking about some bullshit assignment trying to track down a girl. No picture, just a description, didn't even know who the job was for, just said it was some dude called N. Anyway he gave me the description and it kinda sounded like the Smith's daughter, Oriana. I figure it's probably some long lost family member or old friend, so I ask around about this N guy and meet up with one of his men, a Salarian called Opak Rednus, who offers me a big reward for info. I tell him about the Smiths and he says he'll check it out. Next thing I know he gives me a huge stack of credits and tells me not to talk about it to anyone. That's when the Smith's moved. That's it I swear.'

Miranda considered these words. 'Did you see them move out?' She asked. 'No they went on ahead, first we knew about it was when some delivery trucks turned up and cleaned the place out.' 'Do you know which company?' 'Um Nos Astra Freight Inc.' Miranda withdrew the knife and stood back to the audible relief of Ryans.

Time was she'd have just killed Ryans herself. The little bastard had as good as sold her sister after all and it would so easy to put a couple of rounds in him, then leave evidence of a burglary gone wrong. She remembered a similar incident again on Illium when her childhood friend, Niket, had betrayed her. He'd planned to return Oriana back to her father. If it hadn't been for Shepard she might never have stopped him and Oriana would be a prisoner, like she herself had been all those years ago. She remembered again Niket standing there next to that Asari Eclipse Captain, Enyala. She'd felt the cold fury flow through her as he admitted he'd taken her father's money, she'd raised her weapon to gun him down. But Shepard had stopped her, not that it mattered, the Asari bitch had shot him in the back anyway. Shepard had told her later the reason he stopped her was because he knew deep down she'd regret it. He was right, damn him.

Now here she was in a similar situation and all she could think about was what would Shepard think of her. She sighed, that didn't mean this little pratt was going to get away scott free.

'Ok Ryans here's the deal. You're going to give away this apartment and all that money to charity, you can leave enough for one ship ride to wherever you want, but that's it. If you don't I will find you again and next time it won't be a chair I'm stabbing. Am I making myself clear?' Ryans nodded and as soon as she stood aside he sprinted out the door as if chased by demons.

Finally her path was clear. Oriana had been taken, no doubt her father had put a lot of money down hiring investigators to track her and thanks to Ryans, got lucky. Miranda left the apartment block and went back to her Skycar. She started checking for flights to Illium. She was going to go there to track this Opak Rednus down. See how he liked being the hunted.

Overhead, newscreens related footage of a blasted Earth under Reaper invasion. Hard to believe that it was real, even after all Shepard's efforts they were here. She knew she should probably be helping the war effort, but her sister was lost. Now that was the only lesson she'd ever taken from her father.

Family comes first.