AN: I should've listened to those of you who warned me. This almost died, but luckily, I got over myself. If not that ending. Thanks to Sigma Castell for his pep talk, and Zim because you are about as awesome as that psychotic biotic. ;)

Chapter 07: Observations.

She had taken a longer shower than she anticipated so by the time that EDI let her know that Jack was coming, her hair was still damp. Where Abby used to be able to move relatively freely through the Normandy before, she found that now there was always somebody noticeably at hand – keeping an eye on her. She didn't blame them, she was constantly aware of the fact that she might slip into any of the asari memories. Asura's memories didn't bother her as much, she had a fairly good grasp on them and she felt that she had seen the worst of what the Ardat Yakshi had done and experienced.

Lenelle was a completely different cup of tea.

When the door opened, Abby didn't miss the cautious look that Jack gave her. It was only when she gave her a small smile that the biotic relaxed, slipping her hands from her pockets. She didn't smile at her, not exactly. Jack always looked as if she was permanently pissed off. But there was no distain in her gaze - not anymore anyway - and Abby thought she almost caught a hint of pity but it was so brief that she decided she must've imagined it. Jack didn't say anything but motioned with her head in the direction of the elevator. Abby got up from where she had been sitting, her mouth drying instantly as she fell in step next to Jack.

"Was Dr. T'soni late?" she queried, embarrassed by the croak in her voice. "I'd have thought they'd call me earlier."

Jack snorted as they stepped into the elevator and shrugged. "They had to have time for a lover's quarrel first," she said off handily. "Fuck me if Shepard doesn't have a history with all of her old crew members." Abby sensed immediately that the biotic was in a foul mood and she wondered whether she and Miranda had had a tiff. The XO was the only person onboard the ship who could get the biotic's back up like that. She smiled weakly but felt the need to add her ten cents.

I'm a dead woman walking anyway. "I don't think that's quite the case Jack," she said. "People just feel strongly about her." When Jack didn't hit her with a shockwave, she smiled mischievously. "You should know."

Jack snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I think there's going to be fucking fireworks whenever an old fucking flame or crewmate shows up," she grimaced. "I was on Horizon, I saw how that fucking Alliance woman responded."

Not knowing what to say about Ashley Williams without revealing what she knew of the original Cerberus mission, Abby didn't comment. When the elevator stopped and the door prepared to open she moved quickly, putting her hand on the halt button.

"EDI, wait for a moment," she said before the AI could open the door. "I quickly want to ask Jack something." She had not missed the brief look of cornered aggression that passed across Jack's features. Her hands had shot to her pockets again and Abby wondered whether she had a pistol there. It was clear that whatever it was, she was willing to use it. This gave her some hope for what she wanted to bring up next. Abby shifted and chose her words carefully, purposefully, looking at the faint scars that Jack had on her arm.

"Jack, you remember how I came here right?" She said slowly, careful not to say anything specific that EDI could relay to Shepard. Jack was the only one on the crew who knew of her final moments on Earth. "You know how strongly I feel about..." Being an invalid. "Being different than I am normally. Permanently."

Jack gave her a sceptical look. "What the fuck are you on about?" She said and it dawned on Abby that Jack was probably the last person to try and be subtle with. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"EDI," she said. "Please don't tell Shepard about this conversation. Jack, if you realise at any moment that Lenelle has taken over my mind and I'm not coming back, I want you to do something about it."

Jack stared at her blankly for a few seconds.

"You want me to fucking kill you?" Her tone, despite the swear word, was as blank as her voice.

Despite herself Abby flinched and looked at the ground nodding. She could feel Jack staring at her, the ex-convicts eyes cold and blank. It felt like an age until she finally heard the younger woman sigh.

"Yeah sure," she said. "Whatever."

Her tone was so casual that Abby had to look up and gape at her.

"Just..." She hesitated. "Like that? Just yes?"

Jack raised an eyebrow and glared at her. "It's not fucking Mass Effect Science," she snapped. "You don't want to be nothing and the others won't fucking know when to call it quits." Her glare intensified. "If you're not fucking serious, don't fucking waste my time by asking. Be fucking sure. Death for us mere mortals is permanent."

Abby realized that a faint tremor ran up her one arm and she shivered awkwardly, rubbing her wrist. The intensity of Jack's curses shocked her and she felt silly suddenly, questioning the young woman.

"I'm serious," she said softly. "I just... didn't think that you would be."

Jack snorted and hit the door button. "You don't want to be in a fucking cage," she said. "I understand that." She left the elevator without saying anything else or giving Abby time to comment.

Staring after her, Abby felt her stomach turn with anxiety, realizing suddenly that Kelly, standing by her console, was giving her an odd look. She swallowed and quickly hurried after the biotic, falling in step next to her as she took them through the tech lab to the briefing room. She was absolutely shocked by her quick agreement to her request. It brought some measure of relief but it left a cold pit in her stomach. It soon passed when Jack, without looking at her, briefly brushed a hand against hers before she opened the door. Abby wasn't sure whether it was accidental but it did give her some measure of comfort, making her feel as if she regained some measure of control back into her life.


It was Jack who appeared first, her dark eyes dancing across the room and resting on Liara. Her mouth thinned and she stepped into the room, bringing a stoic faced Abby with her. Jane, who had been sitting across a silent Liara, stood up - her hands unconsciously finding the pocket of her pants. Dr. Chakwas had given each of them who worked closely with Abby a sedative that they could quickly administer in the event that the vet had another lapse. Jane hadn't spoken to Abby since she had told her that they were going to Illium and, judging by the tight lines that appeared in her eyes when she looked at her, the vet had still not forgiven her. The weight of her dark gaze added a whole new edge to the silence that had been brewing between Liara and herself. When Abby appeared, Liara stood up slowly, her clear blue eyes quickly scanning the vet but it was Jane who spoke first, moving to Abby, gesturing her to the other vacant chair in the room.

"Thanks for coming Dr. Gable," she said – being more formal for Liara's sake. "Jack, you can leave us."

She wasn't really surprised when the biotic snorted and crossed her arms over her almost bare chest.

"Like hell," she said. "She could go psychotic on you." Jane wasn't quite sure if she meant Abby or Liara. She made to give Jack a warning look but when she saw the slightly amused look that Abby had she hesitated, wanting to see what she'd do.

"As far as I understand Dr. T'soni's a very capable biotic Jack," she said, her dark eyes turning back to the younger woman before she glanced at Jane. "I'm sure she'll know how to deal with me. Or any variation thereof." Her gaze eventually settled on Liara and the asari shifted her brow furrowing as she studied Jack. Jane had not yet introduced them but she knew that as an information broker, Liara probably had some intelligence on her current crew members.

Jack snorted again but seemed more willing to leave now that Abby had told her that she could. It intrigued Jane and she realized in hindsight that Jack probably only defied her first order because she had made it one. What will happen to you if something happens to me? She thought suddenly as she stared at the tiny biotic. Who will you fight then? For who will you fight? Before she could say anything else, Jack raised her hands in the air in exasperation and shrugged as she turned her back on them.

"I'll be right outside," she said, though it definitively sounded like a threat rather than a vote of confidence. She left the room and closed the door without turning back, leaving the three of them to stand together in an awkward silence. The last time they did this, Jane remember, was when they were in Liara's apartment right after the Eclipse asari had been murdered in the theatre. Abby had been scared then, uncertain of herself but she had grown since then. She still gave off an air of uncertainty, but there was steel in her now and she didn't look towards Jane for support. She could sense that the vet still felt very betrayed by her chosen course of action.

Sighing softly, Jane set an example and sat down again, motioning to the two other women to do the same. Abby did so immediately, rubbing her hands together before she hid them in her lap, her dark eyes looking at Liara as the asari sat down more slowly, her gaze briefly studying the briefing room table.

"Commander Shepard's told me that you have new information on… on the Shadow Broker," her hesitation was brief but clear – Jane wondered whether she wanted to say Feron. "She also told me how you managed to procure this knowledge… I'm sorry, it couldn't have been pleasant."

Abby's face never changed as she shrugged, the clinical detachment of a physician slipping over her features. "It had its uses," she said quietly and glanced at Jane before she looked back to Liara. It was odd to see Liara mimic the gesture, glancing towards her before she turned back to the vet.

"What can you tell me of Feron?" she whispered, this time using her friend's name. "What do you know?"

Abby's face twitched as she glanced at her hands and sighed slowly. "I haven't remembered anything else," she pointed out. "I don't know what Commander Shepard told you but this isn't like recalling a memory. I can't just remember your friend. The memories have to be… triggered. I have no control over them."

Liara frowned at her and sat back a little, the hope that Jane had briefly seen in her features disappearing. "Have you tried controlling them?" she queried, immediately making Abby frown.

"No," she said frankly. "I've tried avoiding them."

Still frowning, Liara gave her a puzzled look. "Why?" she queried. "They hold important information. They can become crucial in taking down the Shadow Broker."

There was a hard light in Abby's gaze as she motioned in their direction, her hand steady. "Important for you perhaps," she said bitterly, with an anger than took even Jane by surprise. "But they mean nothing to me. All they symbolise is the probability that they'll drive me insane." She sniffed and glanced at Jane. "Now don't get me wrong Dr. T'soni, I'll help you. I owe Jane that much but you can't just ask me to recall these memories. It doesn't work that way." She dropped her hand to the table, tapped against it nervously for a moment and then sighed as she brought it back to her lap. "Has Jane given you any details as to what I did recall?"

Liara shook her head wordlessly, glancing at Jane who was very silent, a little bit surprised by Abby's sudden outburst. It was clear that the vet had been brewing on this for a while. She looked more deflated now as she carefully recalled the memory that she had of the drell and informed Liara of everything that they knew of Lenelle. She looked exhausted by the time that she finished, her hands trembling slightly as she rubbed her brow, her dark eyes fixed on the stoic asari. Jane was once again struck by how much Liara had changed.

The asari didn't show any emotion as she shifted in her seat and sat forward. "Have you been hypnotised again?" she queried though she glanced at Jane. Abby saw the gesture and didn't reply, leaving Jane to answer it for her. The Commander shifted and shook her head.

"No," she said. "We thought it best to ask you first. And, Yeoman Chambers seems to think that it's too risky to try it again."

Liara's mouth thinned as she thought these words over. "The way you're doing it, it might well be," she confessed. "You're drugging her – taking away her control." She looked back to Abby. "Perhaps I can help with that."

Jane shook her head immediately before Abby could respond. "I know what you want to do Liara," she said. "And it's not going to work. Samara tried to delve Abby's memories and according to her, an Eclipse sister tried as well. Her condition prevents her from melding with normal asari."

Liara gave Jane a strangely cold look. "I doubt the Justicar had as much practice as I've had in the past couple of months," she said dryly. "Dr. Gable, would you mind if I try?"

Abby sighed loudly and nodded, shifting her chair back. "You'll get a headache," she pointed out. "But you can try. You'll keep on wondering if you don't." A flash of fear passed her features but she quickly schooled it to calm. "What do you want me to do?"

Liara smiled at her for the first time and shook her head, getting up. "Nothing," she said. "You can just sit there." Not looking at Shepard, she came to stand beside Abby and studied the vet's features for a moment before she looked at Jane.

"Commander?"

She wasn't sure what was behind that question, whether she was asking her to leave or for her permission or whether or not she approved. She glanced at Abby and nodded slowly, slipping her hand into her pocket so that it rested on the tranquilizer. Abby looked at her as she did so and again that fear passed through her features. Yet, she swallowed and closed her eyes before she looked up at Liara, meeting the asari's gaze. Liara gave her a reassuring smile and looked almost embarrassed as she reached out to touch Abby's head.

"Are you ready?" she queried softly. "Do you know what to expect?"

Abby nodded wordlessly and closed her eyes, dropping her head as Liara touched her forehead. Jane watched as the asari took a steadying breath and looked up to the ceiling, her eyes turning back. She seemed to whisper a prayer and then looked back to Abby's forehead though her gaze was unseeing.

"Embrace eternity," she whispered and although Jane expected Abby to react as she had with Samara, the vet merely shivered and dropped her head further, her hands white in her lap as she clutched them together. Jane felt her own hold on the tranquilizer tighten as she waited, seeing the way Liara's brow furrowed as she concentrated. Maybe it was because of her eyebrow like markings but Jane felt it easier to read her facial expressions than other asari. She could see how deeply Liara concentrated, her hand tight as it clutched Abby's head and hair. For a moment, Jane began to wonder whether she was succeeding but then she saw her face fall as she opened her eyes again and they became a normal colour. Liara looked towards Jane, frustration clear in her gaze and took her hand away from Abby's head, carefully caressing her hair back into place as she did so. Abby had not yet moved, her hands still clutched in her lap.

"Shepard," Liara's voice was almost mournful. "I see what you…"

Her sentence was cut short as she gave out a yell of surprise when Abby leapt up with a speed Jane would never have put to her and grabbed Liara by the throat.


"The Observer is dead."

Lenelle blinked in surprise but didn't feel any particular remorse as she searched to obtain her target. "How so?" she said into her communication link. "Did she die from a paper cut?"

"No," came the short and almost angry reply. "Liara T'soni figured out who she was with the help of Commander Shepard." There she is.

Following the younger asari's progress as she carefully made her way through the Zakera Ward on the Citadel, Lenelle was already losing interest in the conversation. "I heard rumours that Shepard was alive. That's unfortunate; Marena A'lain was very good at filing." She hesitated. "I hope you're not calling me to apply for the now vacant spot of personal assistant."

She could hear the anger in the next reply. "This is no laughing matter!" The Shadow Broker said. "Liara T'soni is coming ever closer to discovering my location. There's no telling what she'll find next. I want you to deal with her."

Still looking at the younger asari, Lenelle didn't reply immediately. Asura Dushkriti was slowly making her way from store to store, gathering supplies which she could not find on Omega. She held herself as Lenelle had expected her to, straight and filled with a reserve that made very few people approach her. She knew the feeling, how you had to stop yourself from reaching out to every person within touching distance, to take them, kill them... Asura didn't kill enough; she didn't know how the young asari had managed to remain abstinent until now. And even after she had seen her family butchered, she still killed with reserve, only choosing to focus her energy on those she thought to be responsible.

What a delightful change you are, Lenelle thought with a smile as she turned to leave, fearing that Asura might sense her. I have so much hope for you.

"Lenelle?" The Shadow Broker's anger pulled her out of her reverie and she stopped completely, staring towards the elevator almost sure that everybody within a three yard radius had heard the shout. "Are you listening to me? I said that you are to let your personal project go for now and focus on Dr. T'soni."

The tone of voice angered her. "I heard you the first time," she said. "And for your information, I don't think that Liara T'soni is such a big problem. She is a maiden, a child. Yes, she's angry, and she's determined but seriously? What can she get? The chance I have with Asura is bigger than the threat that she poses. If you want her disposed of, send one of your other agents. I've got more important things to do."

She terminated the link, glanced around to see where Asura was and, when she saw her in the Sirta Foundation's store went to the elevator and left the ward.


It was instinct that took over and it didn't make her reach for the hypodermic in her pocket. Jane leapt at Abby, ready to throw her off of Liara but the asari, although she coughed and grabbed at Abby's hand that was clasped around her throat, held up her hand – fending Shepard off. Her eyes were blue again and filled with shock.

"Dr. Gable," she breathed. "Release me."

"What is this?" Abby hissed in reply. "I should've killed you when he said..."

Liara's eyes grew darker and her hands' grip became tighter. "Who?" she hissed in return. "Who is he? Where is Feron?"

Jane didn't like what she was seeing and finally remembered the sedative. "Liara," she said, her tone filled with all the warning that she could give the asari. Her voice made Abby turn towards her, her features surprised when she realized that there was someone else in the room. She looked ready to leap at Shepard as well but then her face shifted and she grimaced, her hand on Liara's throat loosening its grip. Liara pulled herself free, but instead of moving away from Abby, pushed the vet back into the chair and knelt beside her, her eyes returning to its black colour.

"Dr. Gable," she said, her voice intense. "Abby, hold onto that memory. Grab it. It's yours. Come on, don't let it slip away from you! If you give in now, you will be a slave to her for the rest of your life! Claim it as yours!"

The vet tried to pull away from her, her hands shaking in Liara's touch. At first, she looked at her wildly but then she exhaled and closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

"I..." She sounded normal, like herself and, as Liara released her wrists; she brought her hands up and rested her head on her palms. "I have a headache."

Shepard took what felt like her first breath in centuries and found herself looking at Liara in admiration as the asari stood up, looking shaken but impressed. She turned to Shepard before Jane could say anything and shook her head when she saw the hypodermic in her hand.

"Jane," Liara said softly. "If you keep on doping her, you are continuing to keep her from finding equilibrium within her mind. She has to process these memories. Abby?" She turned back to the vet who had not moved from her position, her hands completely covering her face. "What did you remember?"

Abby didn't move but muttered through her hands. "I have a headache..." She hesitated and looked up, her cheeks flushed as she slipped her shaking hands between her legs to hide them. "But... but I think I have Nyxeris's real name."

The End of Chapter 7