-This story takes place on a Earth, the great metropolis of NYC in 2186. Many different races now live on Earth, from Humans to Salarians, Batarian to Hanar. Street gang based fic. Femshep x Liara is canon but pretty much everyone shows interest in everyone at some point. They're all close, what do you expect? Enjoy!-

Chapter 1

The Bank Heist; All Is Good

"...the robbery is now being investigated by local NYC law enforcement. Please note that the chances of something such as this happening to small businesses is unlikely, but we strongly advise that any business owners be prepared. The notorious street gang 'Pandora's Faction' or sometimes abbreviated to 'The Faction', are prime suspects in the case, due to their infamous reputation, although all suspects were individually masked as various members of the Citadel Council, therefore, there is uncertainty as to who was responsible for holding up the most secure bank in NYC. Is this a political statement and a stab at the Council for their poor financial decisions? Join us for the latest in the Citadel Council scandal in half an hour".

A pale, slightly freckled face grins at the wall-mounted television as the news report ends. Piercing green eyes light up as a grin turns to a chuckle. Jane Shepard, leader of the notorious street gang known as Pandora's Faction, shakes her head light-heartedly at the screen and switches it off as she leans back on the modern black leather couch, with red trim on it.

"Shepard," a soft, familiar Australian voice calls out from behind her, "I have the intel from your drell agent. I wish you'd just tell me their bloody name."

"Miri, you know I can't do that, because they'd somehow find out and manage to silence you. Somehow. With absolutely no help from me." Jane takes the datapad from Miranda Lawson's gloved hand, she almost always wore a skin-tight one piece suit, specially tailored using the finest, lightest and strongest materials you can illegally buy. Miranda had a fantastic body, and she knew it. "you've gotta respect the bosses privacy sometimes! Thanks for this." Her eyes quickly scan over the intel then pops the datapad on the coffee table in front of her. She rests her arms on the back of the couch, looking over at Miranda who is sat comfortably on the couch a fair distance away from her, stretching her neck muscles, with a smile Jane states "I've just watched the news coverage on that bank heist. I think it went really well. The cops are tripping over their own laces trying to find solid evidence on who did it. They couldn't catch a cold if it robbed a bank!"

Miranda laughs and nods her head "you're damn right there, Shep!" They share a relaxed fist bump to show respect, before sighing contently.

"I just... Can't believe how far we've come. Remember when it was just us three, running the inner circle from your bedroom when we were, what, 15? 16? Now we actually have goals, we're aware of what we're climbing to the top of, not just shoplifting for a few creds when we're bored," Jane shared, "by the way, where the hell IS Liara? Is she still on that run with Garrus? I should check in with them, someone might have got to them."

Miranda opens her omni-tool and inputs some digits and codes to check if Liara has been within a certain radius of the hideout and when she last used her omni-tool. Jane clicks the small, almost hidden headset in her left ear and calls Liara.

"Oh hey Ja-" Liara starts before being interrupted by Jane, "Liara? Are you alright? You and Garrus have been gone for ages." Shepard asks in a concerned tone. She was confident, cool and collected most of the time, until she thought someone was messing with her crew. Especially Liara. Her and the young Asari had been close since Jane was only a child, and Liara used to roll with some questionable low-lives. Then Jane grew up.

"Yessss babe, we're fine. We stopped off for some food. By the time we'd finished with that degenerate Mouse, we were too hungry to even think straight. We got chicken! Would you like anything while we're here?"

Jane paced calmly near the desk to the left of the room as she listened and stopped dead in her tracks as she heard Miranda still seated on the couch trying to hold in her laughter as she heard what Liara had said. Ever since Liara first tasted fried chicken, when her and Jane had one of their first dates, she loves it. It's very rare that she can go out and do a job and come straight back to the hideout without some Popeye's chicken in her hand. Miranda always found the Asari eating it hilarious. Liara was polite, courteous and intelligent... But would gladly ravage down a plate full of fried chicken wings within a matter of minutes.

"... Yes. Yes I would, now that you mention it. I'll have a chicken burger box meal, please. The spicy one I like. And Miranda will have a PENCIL TO THE FACE-" Liara laughs as she hears Miri on the other end of the line yell out in pain as Jane playfully throws a pencil at her for laughing.

"Oh, and Garrus says he has some info for you when we get back, boss. See you soon." The call ends as Jane says goodbye to the two crew members.

Miranda puts her favourite song on quietly through the surround speakers using her omni-tool as she starts to tap away at it, making notes about work. Jane places her hands behind her back and strolls behind the sofa in a regal manner, enjoying the blissful peace of the main lounge. "Hey. Hey you. 'XO' Miranda Lawson... Are you... Ticklish?" Jane smirks as Miranda jumps up at the mere word 'ticklish', "oh no no no please, Shepard, don't!" Miranda pleads and squeals as Jane vaults over the couch and begins to tickle her.

Pandora's Faction. They may be skilled tacticians. They may be masters of the streets. Their methods may be brutal. But behind the steel walls of the hideout, they're just one, big, tight-knit family.