From: Shepard
To: LTS

Hey Liara,

We've just picked up an... unusual... specimen. A geth. It spoke to me, and actually helped me out on my last mission.

Do you have any information on unusual geth activity like this from the last few years? I could really use a fresh perspective.

Thank you,

Faith

"Legion".

Shepard sometimes wondered if this whole mission was a colossal parody. Her team was nearly complete, distractions were dealt with as best possible, not always to everybody's satisfaction...

'Tali'Zorah, we find you guilty of treason.'

Her shoulders dropped as the crowd erupted in boos. She had them on her side, but only the opinions of the admirals counted. She had done as Tali requested: kept the evidence from the admirals, and tried to persuade them with words alone... but failed.

She heard Tali, quietly sobbing beside her.

She had failed her friend.

But dealt with.

And now, she had a geth in the cargo hold, still guarded by a pair of marines, and Tali who had not taken her eyes, or shotgun, off the thing since it had been brought on board.

A geth.

What was wrong with her? She should have left it on that derelict Reaper. She should have handed it over to Cerberus for whatever tests they could come up with. She should have followed Tali's advice, and destroyed it.

But she had brought it on board, and turned it on, out of little more than a burning curiosity. It spoke to her. It saved her life.

Was that its plan? Was it an infiltration unit?

Do Geth even infiltrate?

And EDI... naming it... one AI naming another. Something about the situation sent chills down her spine. AIs were dangerous, and although she had come to grudgingly accept EDI's position on the ship as at least useful, having it decide a biblical name for a geth had kicked up all of the fears she had been all too happy to bury.

She had forbidden EDI from interacting with it any further.

The geth was unusual, no doubt. Speech and strange behaviour aside, its very appearance set her internal alarms ringing. The flaps around its optics, outrageous imitations of a "face", that reacted as a human's eyebrows might. The piece of N7 heavy armour strapped to its chest, the slightest hint of curves showing that it was a section of a female breastplate.

A sick trophy? She could think of no other reason it would continue to "wear" such a thing, when according to Tali a damaged unit such as that would simply have its programs transferred to a fresh platform. A trophy had several uses: first amongst them pride, for a battle, or kill. Geth did not feel pride. They did not feel anything. They were machines. A trophy could also serve to unnerve enemies; in that it was certainly succeeding. And yet the geth had made no hostile moves. Tali and the marines were scanning for any attempt by the machine to access the Normandy's systems, but it had done nothing.

She looked up from her perch by the elevator, across the cargo bay to where Tali and the Cerberus marines were guarding the machine. It was standing perfectly still, like an eerie statue.

She could not afford to delay any longer. Miranda had just informed her that, as requested, Cerberus had pulled together all of its files on the Shadow Broker, and was willing to allow Shepard to share it all with Liara, with the aim of securing the Broker's knowledge of the Reapers. Shepard wanted to get back to Illium, to make a gift of the data, to help Liara in whatever capacity she was needed, before finally attacking the Omega 4 Relay.

But she could not do so with an unresolved issue on her ship.

She stood and crossed to the geth, waving away the marines, but not Tali.

She would not make any unreasonable demands of the quarian girl, after her failure.

'We anticipate exchange of data.' The geth's artificial voice, modified with what was no doubt a very complex emotional inflection fabrication program, rang out clearly.

Shepard frowned. Having a machine guess her actions was not something she was comfortable with.

'I want to know more about you.'

'Request specification: are you enquiring about geth, or the platform designated "Legion"?'

Tali spoke up: 'Shepard, the concept of individuality amongst the geth is foreign to them. It is something only some organic species practice.'

Shepard nodded. 'Ok... Legion... if I ever ask about "you" I mean your platform. I'll say something like "the geth" or "your people" otherwise. That should save some confusion.'

Its flaps briefly furrowed, making Shepard think of a person scrunching their face as they thought. The motion made her distinctly uncomfortable: it no doubt instantly processed the information, and the "emotion" was just for show. 'This is acceptable. Please specify topic.'

She looked the machine up and down. 'Why do you have a piece of N7 armour strapped to your chest?'

It looked down at itself. Why did it insist on doing that? It clearly did not require to do so; it knew the armour was there, and why, and should have been able to answer instantly. The motion was such an... organic... reaction, one that a person would do subconsciously. Had it been programmed to imitate such a thing?

'It was yours.'

Her body tensed up. Of all the reactions she had been expecting, this was not amongst them.

'Mine?'

'This platform was damaged as it followed your path against Saren. Eden Prime, Therum, Feros, Noveria, Virmire. Several uncharted worlds; distractions from your objective.'

Shepard felt a chill run down her spine. 'You followed me?'

'Yes. We were tracking your fight against the heretics.' She still did not like the idea of such a schism in the geth. It threw up a lot of questions she would prefer not to answer: not least the idea that fighting the geth might not have been inevitable.

But they were machines. Whether they "agreed" with the Reapers or not, the Reapers would, she imagined, be able to hack the geth to their will with little difficulty.

She wondered if she actually believed that, or just wanted to. Because it would make what she had condemned poor David Archer to, easier to bear.

'You did not answer my question. Why are you wearing it?'

Silence. Legion's flaps worked furiously, tilting into a crude imitation of a frown. When it spoke, its false voice was tinged with uncertainty. '...there was a hole.'

She snarled, and took a step closer to the machine. 'Not good enough. Why use a piece of my armour, rather than getting a new platform, or anything that would be more convenient for you?'

She could hear a whirring coming from inside the machine. Its flaps danced madly, and its optic began to glow. Shepard could see Tali tightening her grip on her weapon.

'No... data... available...' The thing sounded like a child.

'Tali, what the hell is going on?' she demanded.

'I... I don't know Shepard. We've never known a geth we could actually speak to like this... maybe its memory banks were damaged?'

'No data has been lost.'

'Shepard... I don't like this.' The human turned to look at her friend, who had lowered her weapon slightly. 'I... I trust you,' I failed you... 'but I don't want this thing on the ship.'

She turned again to the geth, which immediately spoke up. 'We will perform any duties required to gain the trust of Shepard-Commander and Creator Zorah. We have already offered the location of the geth heretic station as a gift, to show our intent to forge an alliance.'

She almost wished it hadn't. Things were complicated enough, without the possibility of a friendly geth offering to end the skirmishes that still plagued some of settled space.

Her thoughts began to swim.

This geth was acting so... human... but it was not. It could not be. Pre-programmed emotions, a voice and an expressive "face" did not make something any less a machine than the omni-tool on her wrist.

But why does it have my armour?

It could not answer. Was it a ploy, designed to sow the seeds of doubt? Make her think that it had some motivation other than cold, hard logic?

What does that make me?

She had allowed Project Overlord to continue. She had condemned a man barely able to understand the world around him, to a future of indignity and pain, in the hope that one day she could avert a war that would kill millions. That she could wield an army of robots to fight in the front lines.

And if the geth were more than simple machines...

Shepard looked at Tali, her friend looking back at her, her face hidden but body language begging.

After she had failed the girl, after her defence had been insufficient to prevent the quarians from exiling her, what would allowing Legion to remain do to their relationship? Tali had nowhere else to go! Would she... abuse... that, relying that the quarian would stay whatever decisions were made?

But... she could not simply ignore what she had learned about Legion. She could not pretend that she had not heard its words.

And she could not allow one person, even if it was a friend, a sister, to influence her choices. Tali had been unfairly judged on the actions of others. She would not do the same to this geth, even if it was just a machine.

She held out a hand. 'Legion, I will give you the opportunity to earn our trust. But if it any stage Tali, myself, or anybody else suspects you of breaching this trust, we will not hesitate to destroy you.'

Legion's flaps raised, then folded down again, giving her the impression of determination. It took her hand, the cool metal strange inside her own grasp. 'We accept these terms. Thank you, Shepard-Commander, for this opportunity.'

She saw Tali stomp away out of the corner of her eye, and hoped that this was not one step too far.

'Doctor T'Soni?'

Liara started, and looked up. She had been so intent on her screens, scouring her networks for any further information on the Shadow Broker, that she had not heard her visitor enter her office.

It was an asari: a very attractive one. Her skin was a rich, vivid blue: a tone that many of her species would kill for. Her eyes were emerald green, shining with intelligence and locked to her own. She was dressed in a suit of light leather armour: too light to be of practical use, so Liara guessed it was worn for the pleasing way it emphasised and clung to her curves. Liara guessed her to be approximately five centuries old.

'Yes, welcome to T'Soni Information. I apologise for being so distracted, my assistant recently quit and I have found myself a poor host without her.' She stood and crossed to her visitor, gently taking both of the other asari's gloved hands into her own in a traditional asari greeting, and bowing her head.

'My name is Kalira. I apologise for not making an appointment, what I must discuss with you is very important, and dangerous, and I did not wish anybody to know my movements in advance.' Her voice was sweet, dancing with a gently musical tone.

Liara nodded as she stepped back. Such actions were not uncommon in her line of work. The woman before her was clearly quite formidable; her looks alone would get her into (or out of) a lot of delicate situations if she so wished, and the way she carried herself spoke of confidence, of strength. Her balanced tone and piercing gaze told Liara that Kalira was intelligent.

'Would you like some refreshments?' she asked, not taking her eyes off the woman.

'No thank you.'

'Very well. Please, take a seat.' As Liara sat in her comfortable armchair, Kalira sat down into the larger sofa. The asari's posture was perfect, her movements calm, though she held her hands clamped together; perhaps a mechanism to hide nervous finger motions?

Kalira's features frowned slightly, then she caught Liara's gaze again.

'I am an agent of the Shadow Broker.'

Liara suddenly felt her body tense up. What was Kalira doing here?

Relax... she is not here to harm you... she had the perfect opportunity just minutes ago... she must mean to talk.

There was a pistol in a hidden compartment in the arm of her chair. She could draw it in less than a second. On edge now, she could trap the other asari in a stasis field, or generate a barrier, in little more than the time it took to blink. Reasonably happy that she could defend herself, she cleared her throat. 'Why are you here?'

Kalira let out a breath Liara did not notice she was holding. She was obviously, and reasonably, nervous as to Liara's reaction to her statement. 'I wish to work with you.'

Liara frowned. What was this woman's game? Opportunities like this did not just walk through her office door. Surely if the Shadow Broker wished to plant another mole he would do so in a more subtle manner... or was he trying a new approach?

'You have no reason to trust me, but please hear me out. He is concerned that you are getting too close to him. He will soon be sending an agent to kill you; my job is to gather reconnaissance.'

Why is she telling me?

'But... my bondmate is pregnant. The Broker pays me well, but I do not want this life as I try to be a father. I can give you my access to the Broker's networks, and will answer any questions you have. I will warn you about the assassin.'

Liara frowned. So much information... so many answers... handed to her on a plate? 'And what would you ask from me, for this?'

'Money, of course. And a promise to help me, if the Broker finds out. To hide me and my family.'

Could it really be so simple? Between her inheritance and her successful business, she had more money than she knew what to do with, and she believed she could hide a small family, even from one such as the Shadow Broker.

And yet...

It would mean letting this woman in. Bringing her close, working together.

And she could not be trusted.

As she claimed her motivation was financial, it would only take a better offer for Kalira to turn on her.

Liara wished the woman had not come. There would be no happy way out of this, and she could not simply ignore such a threat on her planet.

'Very well, Kalira, I will work with you. We have all afternoon, perhaps we could get started right away?'

The beautiful asari's features lit up. 'Oh, thank you so much, Doctor T'Soni, you won't regret this, I promise!'

Liara sighed sadly as she looked down from her office, watching Kalira cross Nos Astra's trading floor. The other asari had given Liara all the access she could have hoped for, and more. She had chatted happily about the future she planned for her child, and told Liara she would be in touch tomorrow.

Liara picked up the phone, and dialled a number she had used much too often.

There was no voice at the other end of the line as it was picked up.

'Asari. Name Kalira. She spent all afternoon at T'Soni Information in Nos Astra. I need it done tonight.'

She put the phone down, suddenly very tired. She wanted Faith back, to just be held... let all of the tensions dissipate... to confess everything; her fears, doubts, regrets.

Kalira would not be in touch tomorrow.

A/N: Thank you Tayg for the idea for Liara's half of this chapter!