"Okay I need a break, who knew making plans was so exhausting," said Shepard and she plopped herself across the couch. It was mid afternoon, she and Liara have been making plans with the resort for their upcoming wedding ceremony and reception, all the necessary calls were about done and all she wanted to do was not use or see a vid phone again anytime soon, it was exhausting.

Liara crossed the room and started to rub Shepard's shoulders. "Thank you for your help with this Elly, I believe we are almost done. I am quite pleased we were able to arrange so much in so little time. The resort has been very helpful."

"Hmm, a little to the left please."

"I feel a knot Elly, we should get you a proper massage."

"We could get them together."

"What?" Liara gasped standing up.

Shepard sat up to look at her, "What?" Seeing the look on Liara's face, Shepard could only surmise that she misinterpreted her, especially now that the asari seemed to be blushing. Trying not to laugh, Shepard stood and said "No no Liara, we get them together on separate tables in the same room, or not. I didn't mean-"

"Oh of course, I am so dense."

Taking her into her arms, Shepard kissing her up and down her neck. "You my blue beauty are NOT dense. You are the smartest woman I know." Finding her lips they kiss deeply.

"Do you ever think of anything else Elly?" asked Liara as she finally broke from the kiss.

"Not when I am on vacation with a beautiful woman," sly grin appearing.

"I think it is time to eat something don't you?"

"Sounds good, will give us energy for the rest of the day to," lifting her eye brows, "you know."

Laughing Liara went to the kitchen. "I think we should eat outside, I can bring it out."

"Okay, I'll get the plates."

It was a beautiful day. There always seemed to be a slight breeze. The air was a bit colder today, Shepard could tell that rain was coming.

Wearing light sweat pants and a tank top, Shepard stood outside breathing in the fresh air. Stretching her arms above her head, she knew she needed a run. She needed to work out the tension, the knots. She liked the idea of a massage, they do wonders. She made a mental note to make an appointment.

Hearing the patio door behind her, Shepard turned to see Liara carrying a tray with their lunch. "Oh that looks good Li…" She felt a small prick between her shoulder blades.

Liara was setting down the tray when she heard a strange noise, looking up she started to say "What was that Elly?"

Shepard was already on the ground. "Elly!" exclaimed Liara as she started towards the slumped body. Liara felt a prick on her arm. She didn't think anything of it. At Shepard's body now, she was face down. Liara saw something on her back, "Elly!" Her world started to distort. She felt woozy; she grabbed what was in Shepard's back and held it in her hand. Liara tried to stand, knowing they were in trouble. She could not get to her feet, instead the world fell away and she was enveloped into darkness.


"Man are they ever gonna step outside, shit. I am getting sore in this position."

Mr. Green did not answer. Reconnaissance was not work for everyone. It took a certain kind of patience. Mr. Green loved learning people's habits. Loved to watch them to see a slice of their life. He told his concerns to Kane regarding the moving up of the time line. He communicated that Shepard and Liara had not established a morning or daily routine yet even after one week. Every morning was not the same. Sometimes Shepard would go on a run, sometimes they would stay inside, and sometimes they went shopping. So here they sat waiting to see what this day would bring.

The couple spent the entire morning inside. Mr. Green had hoped Shepard would go for a run, extraction would be much easier. But after watching for 4 hours, he knew it would not happen. When Shepard stepped outside however, things started to look up. Mr. Green told his team to be ready, and ready they were.

Knowing both the commander and Liara were biotics, Mr. Green did not want to confront the pair. Tranquilizers were a much better option. It allowed his team to remain distant while at the same time neutralizing the threat. The first shot was on Diamond's shoulders. He was a good shot. Mr. Green had no doubt that he would not miss.

Set up in a different location was White. His job was to take out the asari. The rest of the men were situated closer to the cabin ready to take the commander's body. They would move once the shots were fired. They were not so close as to be seen by the pair.

Drake, he was the shuttle pilot. He would be called two minutes prior to the first shot to allow travel time to get there, but he would not arrive early enough to be heard. Mr. Green loved this part of his job. The excited tension the absolute timing needed to have his plan go off without a hitch. But every job had its risks. And moving up the time line may prove their downfall. He had one person watch the front door as a safety precaution, he should have had more.


"So what are we supposed to tell Liara when she sees us?" asked Ashley.

"Just that we wanted to help with the festivities," answered Garrus.

"Yeah, like she is going to believe that!"

"We can always say that we spoke to Dr. Chakwas. That we wanted to stay at the resort, heard how beautiful it was."

"Well that might work, did the skipper tell you anymore about this cigarette butt?"

They both exited the sky car to grab their bags. The cabin Shepard and Liara rented had its own landing area by the front door.

Grabbing their luggage, Garrus replied, "No. You know how she gets when she has a feeling. If she says something is up, then something -."

"Elly!"

The two had about reached the front door when they heard Liara yelling Shepard's name.

Dropping their luggage to fish out their weapons, "You go around back, I will get in the house!" barked Ashley.

Garrus with sniper rifle in hand ran toward the back of the cabin.

Ashley, armed with her pistol, was about to break down the front door when he felt a prick between her shoulder blades. Trying to get the door opened, her strength failed her and darkness came.

"Hurry, there is a third target coming from the front," said Smith. Meet you at rendezvous point."


The shuttle was landing now, it was a tight fit but it was small enough to fit between the deck and the lake. The ground crew was at Shepard's body. Pike was binding her hands behind her back and putting a hood over the commander's head. He could not find the dart. Shit! He thought to himself. Looking over her body, checking her arms and legs, neck, back, lower back, the dart was nowhere to be found. He knew he could not linger. Blake found the dart he was looking for and removed it from the asari's body. Pike nodded to the men and they lifted the commander's body.

Reaching the shuttle Pike was the last to enter. The two men who carried Shepard entered the shuttle with her and were securing her inside. Pike lifted his foot to enter when he felt a sharp stab in his shoulder, then another in his leg.

"Shit!" said Drake the pilot. "We are moving, get him!"

One of the men that were securing Shepard turned to reach for Pike's arm. With the shifting of the shuttle and the fact that Pike could not reach up with his arm, there was no getting him on the shuttle. Blake took out his pistol and shot Pike between the eyes. "Move!"

The shuttle lifted off without pause.


Garrus shot only to wound, not to kill. When he saw that a man from within the shuttle killed the man he wounded, he knew the men were professionals. Looking to his right, he saw Liara slumped on the deck. He ran over to check on her. He found a pulse. "Ashley, where are you?" She should have been here by now. Not wanting to leave Liara, Garrus knew he had to check on Ashley. He moved through the patio door. Seeing that the front door was never opened Garrus grew highly concerned. He unlocked the door and opened it; Ashley was lying on her side, pistol still in hand. Garrus checked for a pulse, there was one. Letting out a sigh of relief, he checked her body. Looking for what caused the unconsciousness.

Lifting his omni-tool he called Dr. Chakwas.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Chakwas, its Garrus, are you still at the resort?"

"Garrus how good to hear from you,"

"Doctor please there is no time, are you still here? There has been an incident and I need your help at Shepard's cabin."

"Yes of course, I was just getting ready to catch a shuttle. I will be right there."

Garrus lifted Ashley and brought her to the couch inside. He then returned to Liara's body, again looking for anything that could help him deduce what happened. Before he lifted the asari's body he noticed her clenched fist. Opening it slowly he saw a small dart. "Well don't T'Soni." He lifted Liara and placed her on the bed, hoping Dr. Chakwas would arrive soon.


"She secure?" asked Kane of Mr. Green as he entered his office.

"She is yes Sir."

"Status?"

"We had a complication."

Kane looked at Mr. Green. "Tell me."

"Pike is dead."

"How?"

"Taking down Shepard and T'Soni went according to plan. As the ground crew was approaching, two people approached the front door."

"What?" Kane said, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I had someone at the front, but Smith was only able to dart one of them."

Kane only looked at Mr. Green, he did not utter a word.

Mr. Green continued. "From what Smith tells me it was Spectre Ashley Williams and the Turian Garrus Vakarian. Smith took out Williams then, but didn't have time to get the Turian. Vakarian wounded Pike while he was getting into the shuttle. Blake tried to get to Pike, but couldn't so he killed him."

Taking the news in, Kane sat gathering his thoughts. "Were all darts recovered?"

"No Sir."

At this news Kane only closed his eyes gritting his teeth.

"We believe Pike had the dart that hit Shepard, but as I said he couldn't make it to the shuttle."

"Thank you Mr. Green. The Client should be here tomorrow. We will settle up then. Get your men ready to move. Has the doctor checked on the commander?"

"Yes Sir he is with her now."

"That will be all," said Kane and Mr. Green left his office.


"Care to tell me what is going on Garrus?" Said Dr. Karin Chakwas as the front door was opened to her.

"I will doctor, but please check on Liara and Ashley first. I believe they were drugged with some type of dart."

Moving into the bedroom first, Dr. Chakwas checked on Liara. "How long has she been unconscious?"

"I would say about 10-15 minutes, look doctor; I need to leave you now." Garrus turned to leave the bedroom.

"Hold on a minute Garrus, you cannot just leave, what the hell is going on?"

"I will fill you in as soon as I can. I am not sure myself, but it appears Shepard has been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped! What? Bu-"

"Doctor please, I lose precious minutes talking to you about this. James should be here shortly. I will contact you both soon." Leaving the doctor in a state of shock Garrus leaves the cabin.


"I trust she is well doctor?" asked Kane.

They were in one of the two locked rooms of the one-level warehouse. Shepard was restrained to a table by the wrists and ankles a hood covering her head so she could not see her surroundings. She was still unconscious.

"Yes, yes. She is just fine. Should be asleep for a couple of more hours I suspect."

"Good, thank you doctor. I will need you to administer another dose in a few hours."

"Understood."

The doctor left the room. Kane remained in the doorway looking at the surroundings. Seeing the tray of instruments next to the back wall, Kane could only imagine what the Client was going to do with Shepard. He told himself he didn't care.


"Hola? Anyone here?"

"James is that you?" asked Chakwas.

"Hey doc, what's going on?"

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"Shit is that Ash?"

"Yes and Liara is in the bedroom. They have both been drugged."

"What?"

"That is all I know Lieutenant, you just missed Garrus. He said you were coming and that he would call soon."

James moved over to Ashley looking down on her sleeping form. "You sure they are okay doc?"

"Yes James, they are both fine. They will have to sleep it off I'm afraid."

"I'm gonna check outside."

"No, you are going to tell me what is going on Lieutenant."

"Then you will have to stay out of the way doctor while I take a look around."

The doctor followed James outside to the deck. "Stand back doc." James slowly took in the scene. The tray with the pair's lunch was undisturbed. Not even a chair was knocked over, James saw nothing to indicate anything out of the ordinary, and he was worried.

"I am waiting Lieutenant," said Chakwas.

"Shepard called Garrus who in turned call Ash and me. Said something about feeling watched."

"What?"

"Wanted us to come out here and do a security detail." As Vega moved toward the stairs of the deck that lead to the path around the lake, he saw a body. "Well helloooo."

"What kind of detail Lieutenant?" yelled Chakwas since Vega was moving away from her.

Over his shoulder he yelled back, "You can come through." Seeing where he was going Dr. Chakwas caught up with him to look at what he was looking at, a dead body.

"Who is that?" asked Chakwas.

"Don't know," Vega rifling through the man's pockets. "He has no ID on him, damn!"

"What is going on?"

They both could hear a small ringing coming from the house. They ran to catch it. It was Garrus on the vid phone.

"Garrus what have you found?" asked Vega.

"Hey James, glad you made it. How are Ash and Liara?"

"You were right Garrus," said Chakwas, "they were drugged. They are both fine just need to sleep it off, it was a mild tranquilizer."

"Good. Any ID on that body?" continued Garrus.

"Nope, we just found him, had nothin' on him."

"Damn. I have no trail out here."

"Where are you?" asked Vega.

"I took the sky car to see if I could spot the shuttle."

"Shuttle?"

"Yeah there was a shuttle. Couldn't tell you how many men there were, I only saw about four of them. One you met," Garrus was talking about the man he had wounded, but was killed by his own crew. "They took Shepard in a shuttle, it was a small one, I thought I could maybe see it if I flew around a bit."

"Could you tell if Shepard was hurt?" asked Chakwas.

"I'm guessing she was drugged as well, two men were carrying her. I should be there in about 20 minutes. James, there is a dart I left on the kitchen counter; we need to see if that can lead us to anything."

"I'll take a look," said Vega.

"I think we should get in touch with Feron too. He may have some contacts that can help us," said Garrus.

"What about the police?" asked Chakwas.

"No need for them," said Garrus. "Ashley made arrangements for some help. I just don't know what they were. Not sure the local police can help anyway."

"I agree Garrus," said Vega. You should see this place; it doesn't even look like anything happened here."

"Yeah, they were professional alright. They killed that man on the grass, didn't want to leave behind a witness after I wounded him."

"Damn."

"I should be their shortly."


"We have her."

"Excellent Kane, good work," said the Client. "I have made arrangements; I should be there in about 10 hours."

"I thought you said you could not get away?" asked Kane. Kane didn't like it when plans changed.

"That was then this is now Kane! Don't forget I am the one paying you!"

Not pressing further Kane simply did not reply.

Getting irritated by his lack of response, the Client asked "Is everything there that I asked for?"

Kane suspected he was inquiring about the tray of instruments. "Yes. Everything is in the room."

"Excellent. I will be there soon; I will treat you to a drink."


"She still asleep?" asked Smith.

"Yeah, she hasn't moved."

"Consider yourself relieved. I got watch for the next two," said Smith.

"Sounds good."

Shutting the door Smith was alone with the commander. Checking the window of the door he just shut, happy to see no one lingering he approached the unconscious commander.


"Easy Ash, take it easy."

Spectre Ashley Williams was slowly waking up. "Ahh, I feel like I got hit by a truck, what happened?" she asked as she managed to sit.

While Doctor Chakwas was taking readings with her omni-tool, James handed her a glass of water.

"You were drugged Ash," said James.

"What by whom?"

"Don't know, that is what we are trying to find out," said James.

"Everything check out doc?" asked Ashley as Chakwas finished her scan.

"Yes Ashley, you will be fine. Take these; it will help with the headache."

"How's Liara?" she asked as she took the pills offered.

"She is still asleep. I suspect her physiology is handling the drugs differently," replied Chakwas. "But I imagine she will wake soon enough."

Ashley could hear Garrus talking to someone in the background. "Can someone tell me what happened?"

"Shepard was kidnapped. Garrus is on the line with Feron, he found a dart in Liara's hand so Garrus is seeing if Feron can help."

"A dart?"

"Yeah, it's what they used to drug you guys."

"Do we have any leads?"

"The dart and we have a dead body outside; it's one of them, but no ID. "

"Hey Ash, how ya feeling?" asked Garrus.

"Hey Garrus, sorry. I didn't see anyone when I was trying to get through the door."

"It's alright. These were professionals. If it weren't for Liara's quick thinking I don't think we would have any leads."

"So the dart tells us something?" asked Ash.

"Feron is checking on it. At first glance it doesn't look like much; it is a pretty common dart. But he is going to do his magic to track down anyone who has purchased the brand in the last six months. Hopefully something will come up."

"Vega tells me there is a dead body outside, what are we doing with that?"

"Well, I didn't want the police involved. You are a Spectre after all. You could take care of it."

Spectres work for the Council. Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams accepted the Spectre position during the war with the Reapers. Now that the war is over, she has been assigned her own ship and crew. The Council was still intact and though many allies were located on Earth, the location of the final battle, the Council was still in authority. A Spectre in theory was above the law answering only to the Council. Getting rid of a body would not be a big deal.

"That's no problem. Part of my crew should be here tonight, I set them up in the resort."

"Can someone please explain to me from the beginning what is going on?" asked Dr. Chakwas.

Garrus using his calm tone of voice, explained, "Shepard called me. Said she had a feeling about being watched."

The doctor interrupted, "I know that part."

"Okay, well I called Ash and Vega to come here with me. Our job was to ensure there were no threats to Shepard and Liara."

"What do you mean?"

"He means we were going to spy on them and make sure Liara didn't find out," said Ashley.

"Yes, well, you know how protective the commander is," continued Garrus. "When Ash and I arrived, we heard Liara scream. You know what happened to Ash. I made it around the back and saw a small shuttle. Shepard was being carried by two men. I saw a third man about to enter the shuttle; I wounded him in the shoulder, then again in the leg. I was hoping the men would leave him behind. But instead, one of the men shot him I assume so he could not talk. The men were professional to say the least. The fact that only one dart was found, nothing on Ash or Liara, tells me that they are very smart. They didn't want to leave a trace. I have a feeling they were not expecting me and Ashley to arrive, otherwise they may have done a better job trying to find the dart Liara had hidden in her hand."

"Why would anyone kidnap the commander?" asked Chakwas.

Garrus shook his head, "Don't know. Could be anyone I suppose. That is why I called Feron. He can work his magic to try to find people that may have a grudge against her."

"Sounds like a long shot," chimed in Vega.

"It's all we got," was Garrus' solemn reply.

"Could they have gotten far in the shuttle they had?"

Garrus kneeled in front of the group lighting up his omni-tool, "Yes and no. By the looks of its size, I would say we are working with about a 100 mile radius from this location."

"Shit," said Vega, "We can't cover that much ground, even with Ashley's crew."

"Agreed," said Garrus. "That is why we need to wait to see what Feron comes up with."

"So we sit on our hands until then?" asked Vega.

"Not at all," said Garrus. "We think like a kidnapper."