"...as you can see it's..."

"...when the time comes for me..."

"...company softball team I..."

"...in line for head of..."

"...my father said that I would..."

"...let me tell you about..."

"...I've always suspected I was gifted and this.."

"...Have I talked about my records on the softball team?"

Miranda Lawson, over the years, had met many men who could talk for a living. They had charisma, style and quite often a fire to them. Shepard was clearly one of them. The Illusive Man was another.

Ethan Jeong wasn't one of these men. Not by a long shot. Yet he considered himself the most interesting man alive. And he wasn't shy with regards to talking about his favourite subject. Himself.

Thankfully, Miranda was good at her cover job. She managed to just about take enough in to look interested and pose uninteresting questions that massaged the man's ego, while trying to think about everything and anything else but the mindless corporate drivel this man was coming out with.

And it was only worse when he started to brag about his own accomplishments.

Labelling them as accomplishments is being generous.

Finally she managed to rid herself of the man. At first his ego seemed a little bruised at the thought that he wasn't enough for the story by himself. But as Miranda explained in a sickeningly sweet way, it was a better piece if all the cogs that were involved in making the machine tick were represented, even the smaller, less important positions. She made sure to add a wink to the end, the man's smile growing at the thought of his importance.

She was almost glad to see his assistant, Simone, when she once again almost skipped around the corner to take her to see the researchers and scientists.

"So!" Simone smiled proudly. "He's so great, right?"

"I can see how he's gotten to where he has, absolutely." Corporations like this eat up men such as him.

"One day he's going to run this whole show. I just hope he takes me with him then."

"Don't worry yourself, I'm sure your position is safe by his side." Or underneath at least.

As they entered the canteen Miranda spotted a familiar face on the vid-screen being watched by two workers eating a spot of lunch.

"Oh now that's a man I wish worked here!"

The man on the screen was Commander John Shepard. News of his coronation as the first Human SPECTRE had been running repeatedly for days now. It was no surprise to Miranda, it was massive news for Humanity.

"Oh?" Miranda raised an eyebrow slightly. "Does ExoGeni need to utilize a SPECTRE for something?"

Simone cackled. "No! But look at him. He could do the filing, maintenance.. anything! What I wouldn't give to get my hands on him." Simone leant closer, her voice a whisper. "He could give me any orders any time he wanted. And I'd be more than happy to oblige." Simone giggled to herself, the heat rushing to her cheeks.

Miranda's blood began to boil. Simone was grinning at her, expectantly awaiting a response. The operative's face was free from emotion, something which had served her well in many situations, but never one like this. She laughed and patted Simone on the back, a little hard so that the assistant stumbled slightly. "You and me both, sister." She wanted to pull out a gun and shoot Simone right in the head. Jealousy was something that Miranda didn't have much experience in. Hearing those words out of Simone's mouth about John grinded at her. And yet she knew it was bound to happen, now and forever. John was not just a celebrity on Earth now, but all the way across the Galaxy. He would have suitors lining up around the block, each trying to get a piece of the first Human SPECTRE. And while Miranda trusted John implicitly, she now wasn't sure how much she trusted herself with those potential groupies.

If only she knew the truth. If only she knew who I was, who I am to him, what I could be to her. She wouldn't be saying these things now.

"Have you ever met him?"

Miranda looked at the screen. "The SPECTRE? No." She lied convincingly. "We hope to sort out an interview with him soon."

Simone clapped her hands together. "That would be great to see! And I am so, so jealous if you get to interview him. Just to be that close? I'd probably faint!"

If only you knew.

The light hurt at first. She closed her eyes tightly, attempting to avoid it but yet it came, breaking through once more as a voice filled her ears.

"...oni... Dr... Li... Dr T'Soni can you hear me?"

She blinked as her eyes started to adjust. A familiar man was above her, but she couldn't quite place who he was.

He seemed troubled. "Hello again, Dr. May I call you Liara?"

Liara nodded. She felt off.

He smiled softly. It was quite a reassuring sight for the Asari. "Good. Liara, I'm Commander John Shepard of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance agency and the Systems Alliance." Lead with the SPECTRE, as the Asari are such a respected species of the Council. Might help. "Do you remember anything from the past couple of days?"

Liara's mind started to slowly put together the pieces. "I.. I was at my dig site. Everything was normal and then-" She blinked. "It was you. You found me. You and the Turian. the Krogan and-" She went to move but found her hand shackled. Liara struggled against her chains, shocked as she focussed back on Shepard. "What is the meaning of this? Release me this instant!" She attempted to bring forth her biotics, but nothing occurred. She noticed some sort of device attached to her wrist. Her voice was weak with defeat. "What have you done to me?"

Shepard sighed. "I'm sorry for this, I really am. And I apologise for the way we had to bring you on board."

"You attacked me!"

"We did what was necessary at the time. You were, are, an unknown entity. And we had to make a fast escape." Which was slowed down by that idiotic Krogan and the Geth.

"So you just knock me out at will! What is it that you are accusing me of? I demand answers!"

Shepard surveyed the Asari. Either she's an incredibly good actress or she's being genuine in her distress right now."I need to ask you about your mother."

"My mother?" That caught Liara off guard. "Why do you have questions about Benezia?"

And so Shepard recounted the tale so far. From the Prothean beacon on Eden Prime to Saren all through to Councillor Tevos recognizing the voice of Matriach Benezia. Liara fought back tears in her eyes as Shepard revealed the horrible truths.

"You.. this.." She failed to hold the tears back any longer, letting them spill free down her beautiful blue skin. "This cannot be happening. I have not spoken to Benezia in so long, but this, no, the voice cannot be hers."

Shepard opened his omni-tool, playing the message extracted from the Geth. He watched Liara as her head slumped, her tears growing stronger as she recognized the voice of her mother.

"Oh mother what have you done.. why have you done this?" Liara's tears stopped as she shook her head. "I now understand your caution and why you felt you needed to do what you have done. My mother will make a dangerous ally for Saren, for that I am sure."

"And what about you, Liara?"

"I am not my mother. I do not want a single thing to do with Saren or anything he's trying to accomplish! You must believe me."

Shepard reached forwards, unlocking the chains and removing the device from Liara's wrist. "I believe you. I can see how hard this news has been on you. And I am sorry for that and everything that has occurred since. But we couldn't take a chance."

Liara rubbed her wrists. "I know, Commander. You were trying to protect your people."

"Please, call me Shepard."

For the first time, Liara smiled slightly. "Shepard."

"We can offer you safe transport to the Citadel if you have somewhere to go." Shepard paused. "I know it's a big ask, especially given what has transpired. But would you consider staying here, on the Normandy? We have no idea what Saren's plans are going forward and how he views you. He may make other attempts to reach you." Shepard shrugged with an attempt at humor. "No more chains, I promise."

Liara considered the man in front of her. "I admit, there is a part of me that never wants to see you again. But I think you are right. Saren is still out there, as is Benezia. And I want to know why she has aligned herself with him. Maybe if we find her, she will listen to me. I will stay."

Shepard rose to his feet and offered Liara a hand, the Asari tentatively reaching out before being helped to her feet.

"I'd like our doctor to check you over if that's okay."

"This is your ship, I will.."

Shepard shook his head. "I appreciate that. But right now, I'd like you to have the choices here."

"I, thank you, Shepard. That is probably a good idea. What with your barbaric methods of recruitment."

Shepard was once again about to apologise before he saw the smile form on the Asari's face. "You almost had me there." As he took Liara to meet Dr. Chakwas, he hoped that this decision wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass any time soon.

"So, Liara. What can you tell me about the Protheans?"

Two down, one to go.

Miranda had just finished talking to Juliana Baynham, as well as briefly meeting her daughter, Lizbeth. Unlike her previous 'interviews', she actually admired Juliana and respected the work that she was attempting to achieve.

Not that it mattered in the long term. The piece was never going to air. Because now was the time. Her target was now in sight, working diligently at one of the consoles in front of her.

Gavin Hossle.

Play it safe. Ask the questions, get his standard answers. Off the record. Laugh at any jokes. Administer flirting appropriately. Don't forget to-

The first blast rocked the building so hard that Miranda fell to her knees. The second and third brought the entire floor down. As Miranda desperately scratched and crawled against the rocks to stop her descent, she managed to just grab hold at a piece of pipe.

What is-

The fourth blast sent her tumbling through the darkness. As the sirens and screams filled her ears, Miranda willed herself to pull away from the black that was engulfing her.

Finding herself on solid ground, she attempted to pull herself to her feet but winced as the pain seared through her right leg.

Have to.. move.. now.

The final blast was the last she heard as she flew down the stairs towards the lower level of the ExoGeni Corporation. All she heard was silence as she willed herself to rise once more, but ultimately unable to do so. Using her last grasp of energy, she opened her omni-tool and tried to send out a message of help.

/||||||CONNECTING||||||\\\\

ML: Sh ep d. I n eed /||||||CONNECTION FAILED||||||\\\\

And at that moment everything turned to black.