Liara looked upon the landscape of the Citadel. There were many crews working in various different places, trying to rid free the remains of Sovereign while also re-structuring parts that were badly damaged during the attack on the station. It would be a good while before anyone wouldn't be reminded about what happened here, and there lives that were lost because of it.
The Asari felt the presence of the expected guest approaching her. "I do wonder if it could have been avoided somehow. If we did something different, or perhaps sooner."
Ashley stepped up to the barrier next to Liara. "Perhaps. There's always if's and but's, but thinking that way will never change anything." She leaned against the bar. "Thanks for meeting with me. I'm still feeling a bit cut off from everyone else."
Liara smiled sadly. "I do feel for you, Ashley. I know in your heart you considered your actions to be correct." She turned to the woman. "Please do not protest. I do believe that you were not the one who sent the information."
"Really? It feels like you're the only one."
"You might be right." The smile disappeared. "But I also believe the outcome would have still been the same."
Ashley sighed. "I don't even know anymore, Liara. I was so focused, so.. blinded by everything. And then when Kaidan passed." She shook her head. "I thought I had moved on. And then when I saw that footage and read the message it just ate at me. It tapped into all my insecurities, all the things that have pissed me off over the years. Truth be told, I was dead set in that moment in telling the world. Because it felt like the right thing to do. Now? I can't help but feel it's a colossal mistake."
"It's a tough choice, loyalty versus the sense of what is right. I don't disagree that Cerberus may very well grow as a problem, not just to the Alliance but further and wider. But Commander Shepard saw good in her. Maybe there's more than initially meets the eye. Maybe they're not so different, but simply misunderstood?"
"Liara.."
"I know. That's just one thought out of many. But I've seen the good in him. I know how it consumes him, it is everything that makes him whole." Liara turned away to look over the Citadel once more. "And I've felt the love he has for her."
Ashley frowned. "What do you mean, felt the love?"
"When our minds were connected, her presence was everywhere. He loves her with every single piece of his heart, body and soul."
"You knew about Miranda?"
Liara bowed her head. "I did."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Ashley asked.
"Because I didn't feel the need."
It felt like a hammer blow to Ashley's chest. Still, she tried to move past the sudden influx of guilt she was feeling. "Did Shepard know?"
Liara shook her head. "No. I purposefully kept it from him. I'd like to believe in time he would have come to me, as he had with Garrus. It was not my place to interfere." Another blow to the chest. Would he have come to me too?
Ashley turned to look at the Citadel. A short silence passed between them. It was needed for Ashley to regain her composure.
"I'm torn, Liara. You've been briefed regarding the Normandy's redeployment, correct?"
"I have. I was offered the chance to remain on board, to assist in the upcoming fight against Cerberus. I politely declined the opportunity."
"Yeah." Ashley grimaced. "All of the specialists did. Tali's returned to the fleet to complete her pilgrimage, Wrex has gone to Tuchanka. I haven't spoken to Garrus but I know he said no too."
"I spoke with him yesterday. He's taken Shepard's arrest hard. He has already departed the Citadel."
Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Really? Where's he going, Palaven?"
"I do not know. But he told me it's something that he needs to do. Whatever that is, I only hope he remains safe during it." Liara turned back to Ashley. "The crew will come back around, I assure you. They are professionals, and they will do their duty with honor."
"I know they'll do that, but will they ever look at me as anything but a traitor? They all know the real reason the Normandy is flying out there, to pretend Shepard's still on board. They don't respect me and they don't know Bau." Ashley pressed herself off the rail. "I know something has to be done with Cerberus. But not this way. Maybe not even by me." I thought he was a traitor, yet it's me who's wearing that shade of paint.
"I'm afraid that this is the path you must follow, Ashley. For it is the one you initially set yourself upon." Liara stepped back. "I do wish you luck in your journey, however. I do hope in time it fulfills you, and your sense of duty."
Ashley smiled sadly. "Thank you, Liara. What now for you?"
"I will return to Thessia. There are things there that I must deal with regarding Benezia's estate."
Ashley held out her hand. "It's been an honor, doctor."
Liara met her hand. "Goodbye, Ashley. May the Goddess be with you. "
The streets of Omega were dark, dirty and crime ridden.
Garrus Vakarian hated it. It was the complete opposite to the Citadel. Someone needed to do something to help the innocent people who were being terrorized by street gangs and those alike.
But it couldn't be him.
He walked through the marketplace, it's traders selling a variety of banned black market materials. Garrus could only shake his head as he saw what was on offer.
Checking his omni-tool, he followed the directions he'd been given.
Still feels like a trap.
But yet he was here without really questioning the logistics or even moral ramifications. As soon as he'd received the message, he was on the first flight off the Citadel. The questioning was done and he was tired of standing around. Vigil spelled it out clearly - more Reapers were coming. And he was damn sure going to do something about it.
It's what he'd want.
Finally he found the location he was looking for. Garrus banged on the door twice. A slot opened, allowing his eyes to lock with the contact. It quickly closed as a number of locks were disabled and the door opened.
Garrus stared at her. "We have a lot to discuss." He stepped past the woman and inside into the safehouse.
Miranda Lawson glanced outside and checked the surroundings before closing the door, re-locking it firmly in place.
Ashley looked over the Normandy. The ship still took her breath away, even to this day. It was the people inside it who she was unsure of.
The majority of those who flew under Shepard remained. There were new additions to the team. Two Alliance marines, Jacob Taylor and James Vega had been transferred to the Normandy along with a Salarian, Jgeto, who was hand-picked by Jondum Bau to assist in the operation. Taylor was especially an interesting addition to the Normandy, as he had previously been approached by Cerberus to try and convince the soldier to defect to the organization.
Ironically, it was a conversation with Commander Shepard that convinced him not to.
Ashley's onni-tool began to bleep. She frowned as the incoming call was from a blocked contact. She stepped away from the Normandy and opened the call. "Hello?"
"I'd say congratulations are in order, Second Lieutenant Williams. One could say it's quite the jump, but I assume over the coming months and years you'll now be climbing that ladder rather quickly."
"Who is this?" Ashley looked around.
"I am a friend. The very same friend who gave you the skills to reach that promotion. Again, congratulations."
"Are you the Shadow Broker?"
The voice laughed. It was clearly being distorted through some sort of modulator. "It is of no concern of yours who I am, or who I may represent. Not at this time anyhow. I'd like to commend you for seeing the actions through however."
Ashley gritted her teeth. "I did not send the information!"
"Ah but you did. Maybe you didn't realize it at the time, but that is something you made happen, Ashley. Do you recall the files I sent you? Perhaps the document? That was a trigger to release a certain amount of information at a certain time. So yes, you were the one who did actually fire the killing shot. I was concerned for a time, but I knew you'd find your way there."
Ashley swore under her breath. "Why are you doing this? Why me?"
"It's simple. It is an action that needed to be taken for the greater good. And you were the perfect patsy. Your unyielding loyalty to the Alliance, despite how much they've tried to keep you from rising the ranks yourself. You were an easy mark. The words quickly flowed and I knew they would get inside of your head. But now, everybody wins. I get what I've always wanted, and so do you."
"Son of a bitch. You son of a bitch."
"Don't be upset, Ashley. Everything will work out the way it should. I promise. Justice was served after all - with your name on it. Don't worry. I'll be in touch if I require your services again. I know how much you'd enjoy fighting for more justice."
And with that, the call was cut immediately.
Ashley slumped down against the bars in the docking bay. She stared directly at the Normandy as she bowed her head into her knees.
They're right. You got everything you wanted.
But it's a shame you'll never truly enjoy it.
"There he is, our hero! Be still my beating heart."
Shepard rolled his eyes as he walked past the cell that was located next to his. He stepped inside of his cell with no fuss, thanking the guard who still looked sheepishly at the man whenever he had to accompany Shepard to another meeting with another pencil pusher.
"Not in the mood for chit-chat today, super soldier?" The other inmate laughed. "Probably my lucky day."
"I'm sure it is."
"He talks! Glad to know we're still friends."
Shepard shook his head. "We're friends now, huh? Considering you've yet to tell me your name, I don't see how we're on that footing yet."
"Shit. The guards haven't said anything? The way you're treated, I thought for sure they'd be giving you the keys to the whole fucking kingdom."
"If that was true, I wouldn't be in here next to you." Shepard mused.
"Oooh, I like the spice, soldier. Got any more for me?"
"Not in particular. Does this mean you're still not going to tell me? I'd rather not use the nickname 'violent bitch' like the guards do.
"Eh." The inmate scoffed. "I've been called worse. And no, you don't get that, not yet. You've got to earn it."
Shepard laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "Earn it? Gotcha."
Guess it's lucky I've got all the time in the world then.
And so ends The Paths We Take.
..well, the first act. Yes, we will be continuing into Mass Effect 2. It's something I've been thinking long and hard about. Do I want to continue? And the answer is unequivocally YES. In the beginning, I was simply writing this to, well, write. I was suffering a lot with writers block, and due to poor writing choices on my part, other stories suffered. This gave me my mojo back if you will. And at one point I thought, hey, lets leave it as one off because you're actually going to finish a story for once if you do it like this!
But that's something I can't do. There's a whole lot of story left to be told here. And I've changed the way I oversee things because of this story. I still write in the exact same way, but for the first time I have a pre-determined structure in mind. And I think that's helped me here immeasurably.
I'm going to take a little time to plan ahead now. You might see an update very soon, or it might be a few weeks. But it's coming. Don't you worry.
A quick shout out to all of you guys. Thanks for checking this out! The story has picked up a fair bit of steam in followers etc the last few weeks, and that's awesome. So thank you again - whether you're coming late to the party, or you've been here since the start. Or if I've dragged you in from other stories I've done - you've stuck around this long? Are you craaazy? :D I want to give some personal shout-outs to commandocucumber for the awesome support (and killer stories - I'm a big, big fan of his work), Stk2k2 (for the totally fantastic theories, great to see my story really looked into) and pfcvillanueva (go check out his work, deserves more eyes!)
And *high fives* to everyone that doesn't hate Ashley!
See ya soon.
It'll be here btw. No other place as we continue - a continuation of The Paths We Take.
