Summary: The Reapers have struck and are slowly but surely wiping the galaxy of all known life. Only one person stands between salvation and destruction. Problem is, that person has been missing for the past three years and everyone believes she is dead. Everyone except for Thane. Told from his point of view as he sets out to find Commander Shepard. A task more difficult than he anticipated. Sometimes it's easier to find a person lost among planets, but much harder to find someone lost in themselves. Sequel to 'We Were Heroes Once'.

PROLOGUE

"You would so readily give up on her? After all she has done for you?" Thane questioned, his frustration level rising rapidly. He has been at this for over an hour and the response was still the same.

"We cannot afford to waste any more resources on a ghost, Krios." the turian councilor announced. "You should know that by now. It's been three years. Give up."

Give up. It's what everyone has been telling him. But how could he knowing full well that she was still alive. Knowing that if it was the other way around, she would do the same for him. He sighed.

"I see now why she became so disillusioned."

"Whatever became of her was of her own doing."

"But who pushed her to it? Had you listened in the first place, so many lives could have been spared!"

"Do not lecture us on what we should and should not have done, Krios! We did what we had to after she went off the deep end!"

"I see it was useless of me to ask for your help, then. You -"

"Please, Mr. Krios, understand it from our point of view." the asari councilor implored. But Thane was done listening. His whole body was beginning to ache, never fully recovered from the surgery. As successful as it was, it rendered him incapable of close combat. He switched off the terminal and heavily sat in his chair. Three years, he mused to himself. How fast time flies. Three years since Shepard's disappearance. Three years since the Reaper attack. Three years of chaos and destruction. So many lives cut short.

Thane waited for a moment for his vision to adjust to the dark, then got up to check outside. Like many around him, he fled to the underground when the Reapers arrived. The Reapers. The timing could not have been coincidental. Despite being stonewalled and lied to, Thane had a pretty good idea of what was going on. The problem was, aside from her old crew, no one else believed him.

"How did it go?" a familiar voice filled his ears. Thane turned to face the intruder.

"How it always does." he replied, forcing a smile. "Were you able to find anything?"

"No." Liara replied. "It's like all my contacts suddenly decided to vanish. I'm sorry, Thane, but I just don't think you'll be able to find her again."

Coming from a friend, the words stung a lot more than coming from a hologram.

"Do you really believe she's dead?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I know Cerberus well enough to suspect they wouldn't let her off so easily. If they really did strike a deal with the Reapers, Shepard is either dead or we'll have to fight her at some point because they've turned her into some sort of monstrous machine."

"Perhaps you are right."

"But you still won't give up, will you?"

Thane leaned against the door way and closed his eyes, memories filling his mind.

"No, I will not." he replied.

"I thought so. Here, it may not be of any use to you, but I found this." she said, handing him a data pad. "It's an event invitation. I figured you're better at blending in than I am. Could be worth checking into."

Thane took the data pad from her hands and switched it on. The guest list was less than... savory. It consisted of the best of criminals and masterminds, on the only planet left unscarred.

"Where did you find this?" he asked.

"I've got quick hands." Liara smiled back. "Let me know if you need a ride."

"...Blood Diamond. I've heard of it. Getting in is impossible. Getting out is even harder."

"Nothing we can't fake. I can create an identity for you that will let you in. However, how you get out is up to you."

Thane stared at the blinking data pad, uncertain. But this was his only chance of finding out anything about Shepard. These were the worst kind of people, people she worked hard to put away. The kind of people Cerberus would not hesitate to collaborate with.

"I'll figure it out when the time comes."