A/N: I know this is short, but it is a precursor to the next one. Couldn't pack it all into one.

Shepard lay patiently in bed as Gabby steadily worked on her back, firing questions, one after the other, never giving her a chance to answer them. Which wasn't a problem because she didn't feel like answering. Bad enough she had to relive every moment in her head beforehand. After all these years, after all the bullshit she went through, she had finally said it. And even more frighteningly, meant it. Of course, she wouldn't divulge that piece of information to Gabby. Despite everything, if asked, Shepard was determined to swear on her grave that those three words never left her mouth.

"So did you tell him?" Gabby asked cheerfully, working the minerals into her skin.

"Tell him what?" Shepard asked, pretending she had no idea what Gabby meant.

"You know, that you love him!" she prompted. Shepard rolled her eyes.

"And why would I say that?"

"Why wouldn't you?" Gabby laughed in response. "You clearly do."

"Uh huh. And you're the expert since when?"

"Pfft, since he joined the team years ago!"

"Right. This conversation is over." Shepard finished, taking the now nearly empty bottle from Gabby's hands and ushering the grinning engineer out the door. A quick "I knew it!" floated into the room as the door shut. That certainly wasn't very subtle. Had she really been that obvious? And what was with the since he joined the team years ago? Shepard could not have made her dislike more clear. Or maybe Gabby was right. Maybe it wasn't dislike. Shepard absentmindedly threw the bottle into the trash. Regardless of her opinions in the past, today was what mattered. Today she was going to face her destructor. And if that wasn't foreboding, she was planning on going alone. It was the only way to get to the Illusive Man without any suspicion. Promise or no promise, the only person she was putting in danger was herself. Rummaging through the drawers of her limited clothing, Shepard pulled out the standard issue military shirt and pants and threw them on. They stuck to her skin like saran wrap, pulling on it. The sensation, to say the least, was very uncomfortable. The lotions helped, but only with the itching. The whole experience was rather painful and Shepard hoped she would not have to go through it again. After all, she couldn't possibly be the only human to react in such a way. And once again her thoughts were going in the wrong direction. Forcefully steering her mind back to the mission at hand, Shepard picked up the tracking device that was to be Thane's and put it in her pocket. Stupid, she knew, but necessary.

Giving her disaster of a room a last once over, Shepard headed out, hoping that her way would not be impeded. Luckily, her trip down to the fifth level proved uneventful. The cargo bay was silent when the door slid open to grant her entry. Silent and dark. She listened for any movement and when none came, Shepard walked over to the shuttle and hopped into the pilot's seat. As this was a one way trip, there was no need for a pilot. After strapping herself in, Shepard patched into Joker's private channel.

"Joker, open the cargo bay door, now."

"Going sightseeing?" he chirped.

"Yeah. And if you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I swear to god I will kill you, one broken bone at a time."

There was a momentary pause and Shepard imagined Joker's mind trying to work out if she was kidding or not. He figured that she wasn't.

"Hardass." was all he said as the cargo bay door slid open.

"Glad you understand."

Now to actually figure out how to fly this stupid thing. It was very different from the MAKO. More buttons and lights. Taking a gander, Shepard pressed a few buttons in succession as the shuttled roared to life and started moving forward. Not bad for first try.

"Please set destination." the computer AI requested, its monotonic voice a drastic contrast to EDI's.

"Illium, Nos Astra." Shepard replied.

"Thank you, Commander Shepard. Please sit back."

Seriously? It was this easy? She'll have to remember this for the next budget cut meeting. Checking the screens for anything that might be out of alignment, Shepard closed her eyes and leaned back. Much like aboard the Normandy, the seats were leather and her whole body relaxed as it sank into it. The ride was surprisingly smooth and by the time she arrived at her destination, she felt like she didn't move at all.

The asari, who's name she could never remember, greeted her as Shepard exited the shuttle.

"Welcome, Commander Shepard," she greeted in her too-friendly tone, "we have a lounge room reserved for you. Please, follow me."

Shepard eyed the two LOKI mechs on either side of the asari.

"Thought we were past that." she noted in mock hurt, nodding at the machines.

"Ever since Liara T'Soni left, we have had many issues. It is just a necessary precaution."

"What sort of trouble has been going on here?" Shepard probed, her curiosity piqued. Liara wasn't the law enforcement. Her absence should not have cause such drastic changes.

"Liara left no one in charge of her position. That created a power vacuum."

"Eclipse?"

"I cannot tell you more than I know."

The rest of their walk to the Eternity lounge was in silence and Shepard couldn't help but feel that something was off. She silently thumbed the tracking device in her pocket, knowing that it will do her absolutely no good should the situation turn sour. Shepard immediately regretted not bringing a pistol. An unwise decision on her part. A thought began to nag at the back of her mind and she acted out on it.

"Seen anyone with tattoos pass recently through here?"

The asari paused and her step faltered slightly.

"Your friend, I presume?"

"I'm supposed to be meeting her here." Shepard continued, carefully watching.

"She's waiting for you in the lounge."

The bitch was lying. The pause betrayed her. But Shepard played along. She wasn't meeting Jack. She knew the convict well enough to know that Jack would want to be here through it all. She'd want to see Shepard's face when she turned her in.

If Jack wasn't here, who was?

They entered the Eternity bar and the smoke hit Shepard full force. She had forgotten what it was like here. Except now, it was worse. The haze was thicker, the noise overwhelming, and the smell of cheap alcohol completed the package. Squinting through the smoke, Shepard noticed Matriarch Aethyta gone, replaced by some batarian. Nos Astra was gone, replaced by a criminal hang out. It was Omega 4 of Illium. How things have gone so badly so fast escaped Shepard's understanding.

"In here." her asari escort interrupted her thoughts, guiding her into the lounge, blocked by a thick curtain. "Please, enjoy your stay." she finished, and bowing, left. The moment of truth. By all reason, she should be worried, but worry was the last thing on her mind when she dove behind the curtain. A familiar face, familiar voice.

"Commander. It's good to see you again."