Ch 46 – Turn of Events

Armali, Thessia – T'Soni-Shepard Estate. 2310CE

Vilio Edoze, Liara's ex-commando, sat in her sky car, hovering quite a distance away from the T'Soni Estate as she thought long and hard about her next move. She glanced over at her sister when she made a few noises. "You're right, I should just go in and talk to her." She blinked several times as she rubbed her hand on her thigh then said, "Goddess... I'm walking into my death." Her sister made a few noises and Vilio huffed, "You don't think so? Yea well, you don't know Liara like I know Liara." She rolled her eyes then mumbled, "Look at me, talking to myself and you're oblivious to what's about to happen." She took several deep breaths then flew into there air space and the moment she did, she received an audio transmission.

"You are in a private and restricted air space, and you must leave immediately as we have no appointments on their schedule today. Do you copy?"

She exhaled then replied, "I copy. I don't have an appointment, but I need to speak with Liara."

"I'm sorry if you don't have an appointment, then we must ask you to leave." replied a commando.

She closed her eyes then look down at the small guard tower near the landing pad "It's extremely important that I speak with Liara. If not, Liara, then possibly Shay?" She waited a brief moment and she knew that by mentioning Shay, that shit was about to hit the fan.

The commando quickly replied, "Who is calling upon our mistress and our major?"

She couldn't even get her full name out before several weapons raised from different sections of the perimeter as the commando was setting her demands. "Set this vehicle down, and if you attempt anything, then we will blast you out of the sky!"

She rose her hands directly above her steering wheel. "Ok ok.. easy. Please don't shoot! I'm here to cooperate. I'm going to set the car down." She slowly lowered her hands and tapped at a few buttons to set the car down then lifted the door and slowly rose her hands. When the door was completely lifted, she saw several asari with weapons raised then one stepped forward and firmly said, "Get out! Stand where we can see you clearly."

She stepped out of her vehicle and further on to the landing pad. She grunted when someone hit her with the butt of a weapon on her back as someone said. "Get down on the ground, you fucking traitor!"

She knelt down, then laid down on the ground, "I'll comply just don't shoot me."

"Shut up and wait until Shay gets here until you speak."

Vi laid there for a while until she heard someone walk up. She closed her eyes when she heard her voice, her ex-lovers voice, and she missed it. "Vi, what the hell are you doing here?" Asked Shandri

"Do I need to continue to lay on the ground, or can I get up and speak to you?" Replied Vilio

Shay let out a breath, "You can get up."

Vi stood then brushed off her clothes. At first, she couldn't look at her because she didn't want to look into those eyes, eyes that used to be just for her. A heart she knew she broke. An asari she loved dearly and knew loved her deeply for decades. Her eyes focused on the ground, and she slowly looked up at her and into her eyes and they were cold. She looked down then back at her "I'm sorry—"

She quickly rose her hand, and plainly said, "Don't. Why are you here? Do you want to die?" She asked, then pointed to the house. "Liara is here. Shepard is not."

"I know she will never forgive me."

"She? You mean they will never forgive you. It's not just her but the whole damn family, Vi." She waved her hand around at the commandos then herself. "Us...me."

She looked down, "I will accept my fate with Liara."

Shay shook her head "It's not just Liara you need to worry about."

She nodded slightly, "I know…"

Shay looked at her then toward the car when she heard noises, "Who is with you?"

Vilio looked back at the car, "Oh, umm, my sister."

"You found her?" asked Shadri

"I did. She's ummm, not all there anymore."

"You think Liara will help you with that after everything that you've done." Replied Shay

She shrugged slightly as she let out a breath, "Liara is my only option, and I have information that I know she'll want."

Shay stepped closer to her and softly said: "You broke my heart and theirs."

"I didn't want to. I had no choice."

"No, you had a choice, and it was stupid." She took a heavy breath "You were supposed to protect this family, and you gave it away to the enemy. I trusted you, they trusted you, we all did. I looked Liara dead in her face and said your top crew would NEVER betray you but you did. You made me look like a damn fool!"

She scrunched her face as tears began to fill her eyes, and she leaned into her ex-lover then murmured, "Shay…"

She shook her head, "Don't. You want to speak with her then go right ahead, but I will NOT protect you from her."

-/

Vilio stood outside Liara's office door and began to chew on her nail as she waited. Her heart was beating rapidly as she had no idea what Liara would do to her. She began to softly mumble, "Oh my god, she going to fucking kill me. This is such a bad idea..." She watched as Shandri walked into her mistress's office. She peeked around the door frame and saw Liara working away at her computer as she sat at her L shaped desk.

"Liara, I have someone who needs to speak with you." Said Shandri

Liara's eyes peeked over her monitor for a brief moment then looked down at her arm terminal then over at her office line "I'm not showing any calls on hold."

Shandri cleared her throat, "You have a visitor, ma'am."

Liara pinched her brow markings as she placed her recently bitten sandwich down. She tapped at her data terminal to look at her calendar as she finished chewing then replied, "I don't have any appointments today. Did I miss something?"

Shay shook her head. "No ma'am, this was unexpected but I felt you would want to take this one."

She leaned back in her chair as she licked the glob of mustard from the corner of her mouth "Hmmm. Ok, bring them in." She said as she looked down at her shirt then brushed the crumbs away. "Oh, and who is here?" she asked as she wiped her mouth and leaned forward.

Shay let out a breath, "Vilio is here, ma'am."

Liara arched a brow marking as she rose from her chair when Vilio walked into her office. "Vi, long time no see as you are obviously… not dead."

Vi stood at parade rest near Liara's desk, and her heart began to beat faster. "Yes, ma'am. I come with news that might interest you." Her eyes widen at the speed she moved and was now looking down at vengeful eyes. She could no longer feel her feet touching the ground and she was grabbing at Liara's glowing hand that was now wrapped around her throat.

Liara's words were hot as she spoke, "How dare you come back here? I should kill you here and now!"

Vilio groaned when her body hit the nearest wall. She didn't dare make any fast movements as she knew Liara would take it as fighting back, and it would only enrage her more. Her hands hovered over her head as she spoke, "I know and there's nothing I can say or do to make up for what I did. I deserve every bit of whatever you do to me but I have news you must see and hear."

Liara looked her over as her eyes burned with anger. She took a deep breath, then said, "Get up." She backed away as she said, "First, I want you to tell me why. Why didn't you say something?"

She slowly got up then lowered her head, "I was scared mistress. I didn't know who was amongst the Eclipse in your crew. They had my info and said if I alerted you, then they would have killed her."

She turned on her heel then placed her hands on her desk "You could have come to me directly!"

"I didn't know what to do."

Liara shook her head, "You hurt us…all of us. I trusted you, and you betrayed us all."

"I know, and I can't change what I did. I hope one day you can forgive me and my ignorance."

Liara pushed off the desk as she said, "I may forgive you one day, but Shepard and Miranda are a different story. His brother is dead and her husband is dead because of you! Children have lost their father all because of you."

She pinched her brow markings as she winced "Alex's death was—"

Liara rose her finger swiftly. "Don't you dare! Your ignorance and betrayal got him killed. If you would have just come to me and said I need help with my sister, then this all could have been avoided."

Her lip quivered as she spoke, "I'm sorry..."

Liara quickly replied, "Sorry? The trauma you put us through! Years of therapy!" She let out a breath then said: "So, much heartache Vi."

Vi wiped the tears that were trailing down her face. "Mistress, I have no words to express the tear in my heart from the ripple effects of what I've done." She waved her hand at them "I know of the heartache as I've lost my family, my friends and my lover. All for my sister, who is currently lost in her own mind and as I've said before, I accept the consequences."

Liara nodded as she just looked at her then gave a slight grunt "What's done is done. There's no changing that." She walked around her desk and sat down "What do you have for me?"

"Before we begin, there's someone I want you to meet." She looked back at Shay, and Shay nodded at her, then turned and opened the door. She whispered, "Come in."

Liara looked at the young blue asari with her head down, and her hands clamped together. "Who is this?" asked Liara

Vilio placed a hand on the Asari's shoulder, "My youngest sister Betara and she is why I betrayed you all. You are all my family, and I should have come to you but I couldn't have her lost in Jona's horrific world. It took me a decade to find her. Easier after you all took care of Jona but the damage was already done. She's been living in a special home for the last several decades and I almost feel as if everything I did was for nothing…" she said as her voice cracked

Liara furrowed her brow markings as she noticed the young asari's fingers twitch as she began to mumble incoherent words. She looked at Vi as her frothy words released from her mouth, "Are you wanting my sympathy?"

Vi opened her mouth, then closed it at her sheer coldness then said, "No, ma'am. I..."

"You what? Hmm? Want to show me how your sister is worse off than Milizkia or Shepard?"

She shook her head "No ma'am, it's just—"

"It's just what?" She hissed, "You come here to provide me with information, but yet you want to show me your sister first because you want me to feel bad for you?"

Vi looked at Shay then back at Liara. "I'm sorry... I didn't come to you before, but I do now."

Liara scoffed. "Because you want my help?"

Vi pinched her brow markings as she looked at Liara, then she glanced at her ex-lover. She shook her head slightly, "I... I... knew asking was going to be difficult, but I assumed if I brought you this pertinent information that maybe you could look passed my error to help my sister."

Liara arched a brow when Betrea started rocking in place and began to twitch, "What's wrong with her?"

Vi shrugged, "Who knows, but she didn't use to do this before. She hasn't spoken anything coherent since I found her. The doctors say that's it's a combination of terror, trauma, overuse of drugs, mental damage and who knows what else."

Liara pinched her brow markings slightly as she thought of Milizkia and her struggle after Benezia stopped helping her. How much worse it could have been if she didn't make it bearable for her. Mili was an acting drug user for years during her time with Jona but Betara was forced, injected probably. So many things Mili was obligated to do in her time amongst the Eclipse and the horrible things Betara was forced to do. She closed her eyes briefly at the memory of the emptiness and soulless humans and asari they found when they searched for Mili. She looked over at Vilio when she addressed her "Mistress? For the information, I'm going to give you. I'm asking for help for my sister, please."

Liara clamped her eyes as her kind generosity outweighed her hateful scorn. "Vi… I will provide whatever help your sister may need with or without the information but preferably with." She looked at Shay, "Shay, call Dr. Caliix and have her scan her, and let's see what we can do to get her better. Call Ry if need be…"

Shay nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

Liara looked at Vilio. "Now, tell me about this information that you have that's so important."

Vilio nodded, "Thank you, kindly ma'am. I'll begin with the Eclipse leader."

"Yes, I know of the shift in leadership. Serey Lotora, what about her?"

"I've been monitoring the Eclipse for the last eight… almost nine decades." She looked at Liara, "I've actually been one of your secret informants for T'Soni Analytics, but this I had to bring to you personally."

Liara leaned back in her chair as she steepled her finger, then said, "So far, Vi, you've told me nothing that I don't already know." She slowly leaned her chair forward as she coolly said: "Get to the point."

She cleared her throat, "Ummm…The new leader of the Eclipse, you know personally."

Liara pinched her brow markings as she looked at Shay then back at Vilio, "Do I?" She replied as she slowly swirled her index finger and her thumb together. Her fingers stopped as she stared at Vilio. "Well, let's not keep me in suspense, keep going."

"Oh, ummm, right. She's been the leader for the last seven years." Vi pointed to Liara's vid wall, "May I?"

She nodded, "Go ahead."

Vi tapped at her Omni tool then swiped her info up on to the wall, and it displayed a purple asari "Serey Lotora, a vicious asari just like her mother. You might recognize her as Jeserie T'Seius."

Liara's mouth dropped open, and she stood as her eyes squinted. She stared at the asari then looked at the black lace that covered eighty percent of her face and crest "No... Jes took the Eclipse? How long has she been a member of their crew?"

Vi nodded. "She's been in the Eclipse for the last twenty-two years and her mother brought her in. She played the part and excelled in rank just as Mili did with precision and timing. I'm guessing Aria helped her with the ropes and how to do what and when. She was nowhere near as quick and talented as Mili, but she got want she wanted in time. She waited for the perfect moment to strike down Jaime and the Eclipse cheered when she did."

Liara scoffed. "How stupid could they be? This defeats the whole purpose of maintaining the death of Milizkia T'Loak, locking away Camillia Tourneau, and using the T'Seuis family name." She shook her head then continued, "What the hell are they thinking? If anyone ever finds out who she really is, then it could put Mili in danger."

Vilio nodded, "I know and it doesn't help that Jeserie is the spitting image of her mother. You could put the same markings on her face as Aria and she could pass as her."

She gave a quick side nod, "Very true. Anyone with half a brain has to know that is Aria's daughter." Liara bobbed her finger "Now I understand why she never put markings on her face. She was waiting for direction from her mother. She can take up the T'Loak name but Mili is the only one that can strike her from the lineage." She grunted as she grimaced, "… and she will need to in order to maintain secrecy." She let out a breath as she shook her head "Mili is going to be...upset and to think she thought she saved her from that life."

Vilio flipped to more information then pointed to Kol Blackstone, and before she could speak, Liara did "Kol Blackstone."

Vi nodded, "Yes, I saw the event that went down at Alcazar. You didn't—"

Liara nodded, "I know he's not dead, and I know that's Cameron Alexander Shepard."

"Ok, so you're up to speed there." She pointed to Jess then Kol. "These two…are lovers."

Liara's eyes grew wide. "What? Please tell me you're kidding. They're brother and sister."

She shook her head, "No, but you know it doesn't work that way." Vi tapped at her Omni tool, "Now to the interesting part."

"Because this isn't interesting enough. What else is there?"

"This..." she said as she swiped the info to the wall. "Ilos. They visit it frequently."

Liara smiled "Please tell me you have something because I've been dying to know what they have found."

Vi looked at Shay and smiled then looked back at Liara. "They take the Conduit there. When you arrived at Alcazar two years ago. I followed them there and let me tell you, they were in a hurry to leave. They were terrified of what you all were going to do to them if you found them."

"Is there a crew on Ilos?"

"Surprisingly, there's not, but I'm assuming it's because they don't want to alert anyone of their presence. I'm going to assume they're monitoring it though."

"What's there?" asked Liara

"Oh, you're are never going to believe what's there." She pinched at her omni tool screen then tossed it on the wall "This."

Liara scrunched her brow markings as she walked closer to the screen and looked at the familiar ruin. "I've seen similar ruins like this before."

"Have you?"

Liara ran her hand over her mouth as she said, "mmHmm… In my early years of college. I traveled to many historical sites." She lifted her hand "Sites such as these with unanswered questions of Why, Who, and What. No one knew what it was and thought it was just a display of boulders or other things. There were other mysterious sites with similarities but not exactly like this." She thought to herself as she looked at the vid-wall. How many did you find in your adventures, Cam? She glanced at a picture of Miranda then quickly tapped at her arm terminal and typed Seek out Cameron's unique adventure sites. Check video logs. Begin with Dead Man's Hallow.

"After your fight with them, I carefully followed them there. Extremely difficult when they have varren with them. I had to stay back at a significant distance and almost lost them. I don't know what it is exactly, but the two of them went into this slither in the wall and only Lotora came out. I went back in after she left to inspect the area and there was nothing but this. But—"

"What is the significance of this? Where on Ilos is this item?" asked Liara

She looked at Liara. "I'm getting to that, and this is a ways outside the city in a crack within the side of an enormous planetary wall. Mistress, I heard them talking while I was in there. Their voices echoed throughout the cave. They want to bring you in but he's struggling to forgive."

Liara scrunched her face as she curled her lip, then snarled, "Struggling to forgive?" She paused then scoffed, "He beat his father then his sister almost to death, and he's struggling to forgive?"

Vilio looked down, then said, "That's what I heard."

She grunted, "I find that hard to believe. These two have acted against us, and they will be forever exiled from this family. They are my bondmate's children and I will do nothing to them but when Benezia finds out, she will feel otherwise." Liara closed her eyes briefly "Goddess, how do I wake Miranda to this?"

"I'm sorry." Replied Vilio. She paused briefly, then continued, "They don't quite understand what it is. She said this was more than a relay. That he'd be gone for months and to be careful of the unknown and boy is she right about that."

She pinched her brow markings at her words, "More than a relay?" Liara gasped. "They found another relay of some type?" she pointed to the vid wall "This… this is it isn't it?"

She nodded, "It's something…"

"Do you have any idea where it goes?" asked Liara

She shook her head "No, unlike the regular mass relays, this one needs to be activated somehow. Anyone that goes through is not shown the process. You're blindfolded until you get to the destination."

Shay looked at Liara "Mistress, the artifacts Benezia found and that he stole from Gwyn."

Liara pulled at her bottom lip, "Do you think?"

Shay shrugged, "It's a possibility."

Vi rose her finger "There's more." She pinched her screen on her omni tool and threw the info on the wall. "There's a new company called Oveo Inc."

Liara nodded, "Yes, I've heard of it. They're a mining company of some sort. What about it?"

Vi scoffed. "Yes, you could say that. This new company is the Obsidian Void, Eclipse, and Omega. They are working together and this company is their way of doing that under wraps to avoid conflict in order to get supplies and to do what they need to do."

Liara's eyes flashed then cocked her head. "Interesting… this company came to my attention for possible funding but the board denied their request."

"Well, maybe you should follow up on that request." Replied Vilio

Liara tapped her finger on her lips, "Maybe I should."

"They have been mining the belt for the last six years."

Liara pinched her brow markings "Asteroid belt mining?" she said as she grabbed her data terminal and began to tap away at it."

Vilio nodded, "Yes, but not sure why. Minerals or something, but it's important."

"Minerals?" Replied Liara as she shook her head, "No, the main reason to truly mine asteroids is for water. Yes, they have other minerals, but they contain massive amounts of water. Crystalized, of course, then that is broken down and purified. The asteroid belts have billions upon billions of gallons worth of water."

"Water ma'am?" asked Shay

"Yes, and not many people know that, but it's a viable option if our galaxy ever begins to run low on water because, without water, we are all dead. We as a galaxy cannot function without it, period. Our bodies require it and we need it to create air. Air for the non-atmospheric stations such as the Citadel." She looked at her data terminal "In our current situation, we are substantially well off on our water resources especially with the recycling of waste and purifying. Now, we currently export and import water to certain areas of the galaxy due to those areas having water constraints. Omega, Alcazar, Citadel and numerous other planets and space stations, but there is currently no need to mine for it on asteroids when there are frozen planets that are easier to deal with."

Vi rose her brow markings. "You know all this, how?"

Liara smirked, "Because I'm a partner with Water and Air Corp. They are a highly profitable business. They came to me many years ago for a loan to build a new facility. I told them I'd provide the loan if and only if they made me a partner." She smiled. "So, I know all about the air and water business. The question is, why are they mining for a resource that doesn't need it?"

"Well, obviously it's because they're going around Water and Air and obtaining it themselves. Whatever they're doing, they're taking it through the relay."

Liara smirked, "Wherever they went is in need of water, and they're selling it. That's the only reasonable option. That and they must also need local currency…"

"Massive amounts of shipments and people have gone through. Liara, it's not just mercenaries, and I would say almost the opposite. I'm guessing maybe a couple hundred people or more." She sent more info on the wall then Liara looked over and read the flyer as Vi said, "Opportunity. People in need jumped at it. The lower class was easy to round up for workers. Workers for the belt. Workers to build. People to keep order and to provide protection. The struggle were the professionals."

Liara rubbed her fingers together as she scrunched her eyes then said: "They're colonizing…" She looked at Vi, "Please tell me you went through."

Vi smiled, "I have."

Liara's brow markings shot up "And?"

She blinked several times as she slowly shook her head "They've discovered a whole different planetary system."

Her mouth dropped open, "Are you sure?"

She nodded, "There are creatures there I've never seen before and a different species they trade with."

Liara smiled as she ran her hands over her crest as she excitedly replied, "Unbelievable! Do you have any idea where you might have been?"

She shook her head as she shrugged. "I never went off-planet, but I would say a cluster somewhere… ummmm Andromeda, maybe?"

Her eyes flashed, "Andromeda? That's over 2.5 million light-years away." She quickly tapped at her arm terminal. "That's roughly… six hundred…and thirty-four years away. The Andromeda initiative is still in transit there, and you're telling me you've been there and back?"

Vilio gave a quick shrug. "I've been somewhere and back, that's all I know. Without an astrophysicist to tell me where I've been, I have no idea, but I know the stars are ones I've never seen before. I could have been closer than Andromeda or further away. Liara nothing of ours works there, nothing. So, I know it's not in the Milky Way galaxy. I know that for a fact."

Liara cocked her head to the side "Nothing works? Like how do you mean? Communication?"

"Yes, our omni tools don't work there. They've built their own network there, but it doesn't travel back here. Once you walk through, you are cut off to this galaxy." She pulled out a clear rectangular hand terminal and placed it on Liara's desk "These are what's used there and only these."

Liara gasped as she picked the clear hand terminal up and looked it over. "These are Gwynne's. I remember her telling me a company purchased a massive amount of them a few years back." She took a breath "Omni tools were never meant to be for the civilians but were dumbed down for them. They are too expensive, and our companies have heard that time and again over the decades. Gwyn thought it would be a good idea to go backward in tech in order to supply a cheaper way of communication." Liara pointed to the hand terminal "These have been on the market for the last…six years I believe maybe longer. Her company was praised by the lower class because these are a mere fraction of the cost of an omni tool but she was ripped by the companies that build the omni tools." Liara picked up the hand terminal "These are easier to break than an omni tool. Easier to lose because you have to keep up with it unlike an omni tool."

Vi nodded. "Therefore, they're constantly being purchased?"

"Exactly. They're made of some sort of polycarbonate material, and they work off her network. Omni tools are being phased out, and these are the new thing." Liara pulled her hand terminal out of her cloaked arm sleeve then said, "This is the newest one she gave me. Different than that one of course. Mine has the same abilities as an omni tool but requires accessories to do what an omni tool does. Such as a cloaking holder if you want that option." Liara bent her hand terminal "Mine is flexible in order to easily bend around the arm." She touched the other hand terminal "This one is one of the first models that came out or a basic model." Liara slid her data tablet terminal toward Vilio "What about this. Do they use these as well?"

Vi nodded, "Yes, but only the higher-ups."

Liara nodded, "These have practically replaced the datapad. These are called data terminals and come in various sizes, Terminals being Gwyn's word to differentiate between other companies. These can work with each other. No need to send a message to someone standing nearby; you just swipe it to them. In a company board meeting, you can just swipe to every terminal in the room on the network. Her network is everywhere now in this galaxy."

Shay tapped at her temple, and Liara nodded. Her hand came up to her temple, and she dislodged her transmitter "What about this? Do you see anyone with this?"

Vi nodded "Yes, only Kol and Jess have these, but they're not cloaked like yours. What are they?"

"They are neurotransmitters. Also, integrated into Gwyn's network and highly expensive." Liara looked at Shay then at Vi. "Is Gwyn part of this project, and she's not aware? I know my Gwynne and she would have told me."

Vi shook her head "I'm not sure ma'am. I'm going to assume someone from her company is working with them if her network is needed for these to function."

Liara quickly narrowed her eyes as she said, "I see. I'll call Gwyn about this."

Shay looked over at Liara, staring at the pictures and info on the wall. She smirked, "Your mind is about to explode, isn't it? You want to hop on a ship and go there. Don't you?"

She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips "Yes! This is a monumental find. Of course, I want to go!" She shook her head, then said, "But how?"

Shay placed a hand on her shoulder "I know you'll find away."

"One last thing." She swiped more information on the screen, "T'Seius Corp is a part of this project."

Liara's head jerked back, "What? Are you sure?"

"Positive. Her name is on every piece of machinery."

Liara scrunched her face then tapped at her arm terminal. She paced the room then tapped the side of her leg as she waited for her daughter to answer.

"Hi, mom." Answered Benezia

Liara gave a quick smile, "Nezzie. I need to speak with you and Mil. Is she around?"

"Yes, she is." She said as she waved her bondmate over, "Babe, mom needs to speak with us."

Mil walked over "Hey, mom. What can we do for you?"

"I just sent both of you some information, and I want to know if you knew anything about it." said her mother.

Milizkia grabbed her data terminal when it dinged. "Yes, I know about this. We approved of this project..." She looked at Benezia. "I don't know… what was it like Umm six years ago? She looked back at Liara, "Why?"

"Why?" Liara huffed as she swiped the feed from her arm terminal on to the wall "How come you didn't tell me about this?"

Benezia scrunched her brow markings as did Mili. "Why would we need to tell you about the businesses we conduct?"

Liara's eyes flashed "Are you serious? A project of this magnitude, and you didn't want to involve me or even care to tell me about it!"

Mili looked at Benezia then Liara as her hands rose. "Ok, hold up. We didn't know you would be this upset about it. My mother came to me and told me she was investing in some new company called Oveo inc. They needed machinery for mining and were constructing new buildings for a surveying team. She thought the T'Seius construction company was the perfect company to send their way and to make money. They gave of us x amount of money to rent the machinery, and we also get ten percent of whatever is found. I didn't think much of it. All the paperwork panned out. I don't understand what the problem is."

"Oveo inc, huh?" Said Liara with an arched brow marking.

"Mom, What the hell is this about?" snipped Benezia

Liara quickly replied, "Well, obviously, you two are in the blind about this!"

"Apparently. So, what do you know that we don't." Asked Benezia

"You two are providing equipment for this "new" company Oveo inc, which is The Obsidian Void, Eclipse, and Omega."

Their heads jerked back, "What?"

"Yes, from the information I have, they're mining for water in the asteroid belts then transporting it off galaxy."

Benezia blinked several times then quickly said: "I'm sorry, did you say off galaxy?"

Liara nodded, "Yes, off galaxy!"

"Woah, how? where?" Asked Benezia

"I just found out a few minutes ago by Vilio. She's been to this new place. They're getting there by some galaxy relay on Ilos. Those artifacts we found could have possibly opened that door."

"I knew it! I had a feeling it was something important..." replied Benezia excitedly.

"So, my mother lied to me?" Grumbled Mili

"No, she just didn't tell you the whole truth. They are mining for water in the belts, and they are building for a surveying team or maybe even colonizing."

Benezia scoffed, "Unbelievable and by THEM none the less."

"I know," replied her mother. She paused for a brief moment then let out a breath as she leaned on her desk "Mil, there's something you need to know."

"And what is that?" asked Milizkia

"Jessie is the leader of the Eclipse."

Mil eyes flashed. "What!"

She nodded, "She's been a sister for the last twenty-two years and leader for the last seven." She let out a breath, "There's something else..."

"And what the hell is that?" snapped Milizkia

"Cameron is Kol Blackstone, the leader of The Void."

Benezia's face fell, and she took several ragged breaths as tears began to build in her eyes and she held on to the word then released it softly "What…" She scrunched her face as pain trickled through her heart "He... hurt Anna... and Dad?"

Liara nodded slowly. "Yes... he is caught up in this rage with what his mother did. Shepard was…extremely crushed when he found out. He mentioned that Cameron is taking some sort of drug or something that probably impairing his mind."

"He beat Anna because he thought she never liked him, but he's wrong. That's just her way of hard love. She'll be heartbroken when she finds out." She paused, then looked at her mother "That's why you wanted me to stop that day. You thought I killed him."

She nodded, "Yes…" She glanced at Mili. "Jessie is working with him on this whole operation."

Benezia rubbed her hand over her heart as she murmured, "Our own family… betrayed us."

Mili grimaced as she took a few steps away, "Goddamn it, Jessie."

Benezia followed her bondmate then leaned against her back "I won't do anything to her…"

She grunted, "nMmm I know you better than that but thank you for saying it."

Benezia pulled away from her bondmate, "I won't unless she gives me a reason to..." she looked at her mother, "Who else is involved?"

Liara began to tear up as she slowly shook her head. Benezia arched her brow markings at her, then she closed her eyes when she placed her face in her hands as her shoulders dropped "Sam..."

Liara quickly replied, "Nezzie...we're not for certain."

Her hurt instantly turned into hate as she flared her nostrils, "Damn her! Mom, she's the only one that's worked at every one of our major company's. She's their fucking inside person! So, don't cover for her! We handle this NOW! Bring her ass in along with every sister. We will gather at the estate, and there WILL be a punishment."

"Please don't be rash."

"Don't be rash? Are you fucking kidding me?" She quickly swiped her hand in front of her "I'm done with her! She could have gotten me killed decades ago and now Dad and Anna. No, fuck her!"

"Nez—"

"No, mom! She did this to all of us! Do you know how pissed off and hurt the others are going to be? Gwyn was devastated when her precious stuff was stolen. Millions of credits worth of equipment were stolen from us and all because of Sam..." she paused then looked at her mother "Mother, she knows about Miranda and the facility. Everything we know is in jeopardy! The facility, our businesses, where we all live, our family home….everything. Our enemies know us very well. They know the layout of our estate and how many commandos we have. They have leverage on how we operate and how we think. So, be ready when they decide to infiltrate us!"

Liara's face dropped, and her heart began to beat faster "They wouldn't..."

She scoffed, "Yea, right. Cam, I get it; he's fucked up and trying to play out his issues through violence. Jessie, shit, she's wanted to be her mother ever since she was born." She shook her head, "But Sam? She doesn't fucking know which way is up. She's always been a follower and getting strung around but some idiot. That's her damn problem, she can never see through the damn fog of idiocy in her brain. She doesn't do it out of spite or hate, mother. She does it because Cam asked her to, and she doesn't want him to be angry with her. But apparently, she doesn't care what we think. She obviously doesn't THINK about the consequences of her actions. She a goddamn entitled, lazy, worthless little shit and she thinks that her I'm sorry and her I didn't know bullshit will get her out of this. Well, fuck that!"

Liara pumped her hands out in front of her as she replied, "Ok ok!" She turned to Shay, "Shay, get Teyr and a crew to find out if she's on planet or off and have them bring her to me. Tell Ty to not call Nori for a heads up. I want her crew to just show up. If she's deeply involved, I don't want her to have a chance to alert Kol or to run. As soon as you're done, get a crew over to the facility to check on Miranda."

Shay nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

Liara pulled at her lip as her mind raced then looked at Benezia. Then her daughter spoke gently. "Mom, something needs to be done about this. Kol is vengeful, and his goal is to obviously do harm to this family. We can not allow her to continue to help him. Her continued actions will bring this family down."

She let out a long breath as she closed her eyes briefly "I know and I have to think about this. Do me a favor and call your sisters and have them come to the house. Inform them of a family meeting and that I need to speak with everyone. I will make my announcement to everyone tonight or whenever Sam is on property."

Benezia nodded, "Ok. I'll see you later."

—/

Teyr and three other commandos arrived at Samreya's highrise condominium. She walked up to the door and hit the security button. A dark purple asari appeared on the security display "Hello? Oh, Ty! This is unexpected. Just a second and I'll let you in." Said Nori, Sam's shadow.

Ty walked through the door as Nori walked up and glanced at the other commandos. "Umm, what's going on? Why are you here?"

"We're here to retrieve Sam and to bring her back to the estate at the request of Lady Liara. Where is she?" Teyr said sternly

She glanced over at her door then replied: "Ummm, she's occupied at the moment."

Ty arched a brow marking and firmly said: "Well, go get her or we will."

She looked around at all of them "Ok, can I ask what this is about? By your tone, it sounds like she's in trouble."

Ty grimaced, "Nori, you're her shadow; you should know what this is about, and if you don't, then your lack of duty will be reprimanded. I honestly hope you know nothing of what she's done because if you do then your sentence will be grave and carried out by Lady Liara or worse Benezia."

Her eyes flashed, "Wait, what? Look, I knew, but I honestly didn't think it was that big of a deal."

Ty's brow markings shot up as she spat out, "You didn't think it was that big of a deal? Are you fucking ignorant!" She pointed to her, then looked at one of the commandos "Restrain her." She glanced at the other two commandos, "You two retrieve Sam." Ty walked over to Nori "Nori, by acknowledging your involvement you have been charged with the betrayal of The T'Soni family, numerous accounts of theft and severe harm to the General and Annabelle T'Soni."

Her eyes were wide, and her mouth gaping "What? No, no, no ... what? I didn't even know she had anything to do with all that." Her breaths became quick, "Oh my god...wait, please... I swear I had nothing to do with any of that. What I was referring to is the relationship with Thomas Crispin."

Ty quickly looked over at the two commandos and said: "Wait!" She looked back at Nori, "Thomas Crispin?" She pointed to the room, "Is he in there?"

Nori shook her head "No, but he was here several weeks ago."

Ty shook her head. "Nori, this is going to be bad for you. How could you not know what she's been doing?"

Nori wept. "I don't listen to her phone calls. Everything else is her normal routine. Shopping, hanging out with her friends, partying, going out, and very rarely work."

Ty tapped at her arm terminal and rang Lady Liara. "Mistress, we are here and about to retrieve Sam, but some information has come up that you must know. Sam has been conversing with Thomas Crispin. It could be nothing but could be something."

Liara flared her nostrils "Bring my daughter and Nori back here on the double the others are arriving. I will get to the bottom of this." She replied before she ended the call.

Nori looked up, "The others are arriving? What others?"

Ty looked at Nori and said, "This is an immediate family gathering. If for some miraculous reason, they don't kill you, then you will probably be released and marked. Your servitude as a family protector will be over. Being released from a high standing family such as a T'Soni will be ever damaging to your record, and no family will ever bring you in as a protector."

Nori ran her hands over her crest as she cried, "Oh my god...I need to speak with Lady Liara or Shay. Please...I need to explain."

The nearest commando grabbed her hands and clamped biotic cuffs on her as Teyr replied, "Lady Liara will hear and see your side of the story when we get there. If she refuses to hear your story, then you will be placed in a holding cell at the estate until she does."

The other two commandos walked up to Sam's door and pounded on it; then, one yelled, "Samreya T'Soni! We are here to retrieve you. Stop whatever it is you're doing. If you're not dressed, then get dressed and exit immediately. You have thirty seconds to comply, then we override this lock and forcefully retrieve you."

Sam exited quickly with her robe on and saw her shadow in biotic cuffs and frantically said: "What the fuck is this?"

Ty walked up to her, "Get dressed now!"

She crossed her arms "How about you get the hell out of my place!"

Ty flared her nostrils then pointed to her, "Retrain her how she is." She walked into her room and looked at the young yellow-haired male in her bed, "Get dressed and get out!"

Sam pulled at her restraints, "Ow! Are you fucking kidding me? My mother will hear about this!"

Ty smirked, "Your mother is the one who sent us." She swiped at Sam's temple and removed her neuro piece, then removed her arm terminal."

She jerked her head back "What the fuck? You're just going to take my things? I'm so fucking telling my mom about this!"

Teyr shook her head as she rolled her eyes, then said, "Samreya T'Soni, by order of Lady Liara, you are being placed under restrictive care until further notice. We will be escorting you back to the estate where you will wait until further proceedings."

She pinched her brow markings and replied, "Restrictive care? Further proceedings? What the—" her face dropped as she stopped mid-sentence, and her heart began to race when she finally realized that what she's done caught up to her. Her breathing picked up, "I need to talk to my mother." She jerked at her restraints, "I want to talk to my mother now!"

The two commandos grabbed each side of her arm and lead her forward, then Teyr spoke, "You will speak to her when she's ready to speak to you. If you don't settle down, then I will put you out."

She shrieked as she began to cry, "No, no, no, wait! You don't understand…" Her eyes went wide when she saw a small medical type gun get placed against her arm "What the fuck is that?" Her body went limp when the small gun hissed.

—/

Samreya walked into her mother's living room and instantly saw all of her sisters then her mother standing as they waited for her to arrive. Sam instantly said "Mom—"

Liara quickly rose her hand, "Don't speak until I am finished. Samreya T'Soni, you've been brought here because you have been accused of severe betrayal to this family. It began several decades ago when you conspired with Thomas Crispin on the capture and removal of Benezia's blood. Which those actions were never completed because she found out and killed them all."

Sam quickly replied, "I didn't—"

"Not another word!" Demanded Liara. She glared at her "Next, you conspired with I'm assuming Thomas Crispin again with the theft of Gwendolyn items."

Gwyn gasped as she looked at her younger sister, "You didn't, Sammie..."

Sam lowered her head, and Gwyn furrowed her brow markings as she began to tear up. "Why? Why would you do that to me? I trusted you!"

Liara continued, "The theft within T'Seius Corp, theft within my companies, Miranda's and the theft at Rileseya Medical group."

Riley placed her hands on her hips as she shook her head "What is wrong with you?"

"Samreya, your gravest betrayal to this family was you conspiring with Kol Blackstone of Obsidian Void and Serey Lotora of The Eclipse to harm this family."

The sisters gasped as the repeatedly blinked. "What the fuck were you thinking?" Hissed Anna

Liara rose her finger at Anna as she looked at everyone. "Kol Blackstone is Cameron Shepard, and Serey Lotora is Jeserie T'Seius."

Anna's head jerked back as she let out a heavy breath, "What...?" She stumbled back slightly, then sat down. She placed her face in her hands and mumbled: "Why?" Benezia sat next to her as her mother continued.

Liara glanced at her eldest then said at Sam, "You've been accused of being involved with having Shepard and Anna harmed."

Anna grit her teeth and quickly stood. She stormed toward her as she growled out, "Oh, you little bitch!"

Benezia quickly grabbed ahold of her eldest sister's arm as it was about to come toward Sam, "I know but hold back. Maintain..."

Anna pulled against her sister's arms that were restraining her as she spat out, "Fuck you, Sam!"

Sam repeatedly flinched at her raging sister near her, "I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me."

Anna jerked around as she snarled, "Get the fuck off me, Nezzie!"

Liara walked over to her as she said, "Anna, settled down! We're all upset here." She pat Benezia's arm, "Release her."

Anna stood there for a moment as her breathes were heavy, then she turned and walked back to the others. Liara closed her eyes briefly as she let out a breath then mumbled "Goddess…" She ran her hands over her face then down her crest, "You told Cameron where his mother is, didn't you?" Asked Liara

Sam looked at her mother with tears streaming down her face "I'm sorry..."

Liara clamped her hands together and squeezed as took a deep breath "Samreya T'Soni from this day forward, you are no longer apart of this family as our trust for you is now nil. The T'Soni family name will be stripped from you, and you will no longer be affiliated with it."

"Mom, please don't!" Pleaded Sam

"You will be blacklisted from every one of our companies and Miranda's companies." Said Liara.

Sam quickly looked around the room, "Wait... please. I'm sorry."

They all just shook their heads at her as their mother continued, "Due to your actions, your T'Soni financial status will also be stripped from you. Your high living quarters and transportation will also be removed from you. The financial monies given to you by your father will be removed from you as well. From now on, you live as any other low-end asari would. I will set a budget, and if you cannot maintain that budget, then you will need to go get a job. Your housing will be in the lower end of town and if you wish to not live there, then you can find somewhere else to live. If you do not like these conditions that I have set then go join your brother on Alcazar." She looked at Shay and firmly said: "Get her out of my house!"

Samreya quickly walked toward her mother as she reached for her "Wait... please. Mom... please let me explain."

Liara pushed her hands away, "Explain?" Replied her mother, "What is there to explain? You helped them, did you not?"

"Yea, but... He said it was just materialistic things. So, what's it matter." She said as she shrugged. "I didn't have anything to do with what happened to Shepard or Anna. I swear!" She looked at Anna as tears streamed down her face, "I didn't."

Gwyn stepped forward, "You knew of the things I had in my office. You knew how important they were to me."

"He said you could just remake them, and it wouldn't be that big of a deal." She shrugged, "I didn't know what he was going to do with them."

Anna's hand dropped to her side "You can't be this fucking stupid! He's built a fucking army with your help. That's what you're not fucking understanding!"

Benezia stood and calmly walked toward to her "Tell us why you did this. I want an explanation because what you're providing isn't enough."

Sam looked around at everyone as she trembled. "He's my brother..."

Benezia rose her brow markings as she scoffed, "Your brother?" She waved her hand around at the other sisters, "And what the fuck are we? Chopped liver?" She narrowed her eyes at her, and you could hear the anger and hurt in her tone as she continued, "Cameron is Shepard and Miranda's son with their blood flowing through him. You have fragments of Miranda in you and T'Soni blood flowing in you. We are your blood sisters, he is NOT! We carry the lineage of our name, he does NOT! He's not a fucking T'Soni. We are!" She looked down as she quickly gathered herself. "You are a damn disgrace to this family. Everything that I've done for you... that we've done for you and you do this to us." She shook her head as a few tears trickled down her face "You broke every one of our hearts and I'm grateful that our mother is removing you from our family because you don't deserve to be in it. From this day forward, you are no longer my sister." She scornfully said then wiped her tears away.

Sam wiped the snot that was dripping from her nose as she sniffled then whimpered, "Nezzie, I'm sorry... please don't." She looked at her other sisters then her mother "I'm so sorry. Please…"

The pain was radiating throughout her body as her daughter whimpered before her. She held her breath to push down her emotions. She turned her head and let out the breath she was holding then replied, "Sorry is going to cut it this time, baby. My word stands."

Benezia looked her over, then slammed her hand on her chest and pushed her against the wall "Reveal to me everything."

Sam gasped when her sister invaded her mind. When she was finished, Sam dropped to the floor in a weeping mess as Benezia towered above her "Tell me, Sam… what's the seed he wants you to plant? Hmm..?" She looked back at her mother that was now rattled by her swift actions "Something for mom, I'm assuming."

She shook as she wept, "I don't know! He said he'd call me back when he was ready."

Liara pinched her brow markings "A seed?"

Benezia grunted, "nMhmm, and he wants to watch it grow."

Liara crossed her arms as she replied: "Ahh, he wants me to follow something that leads to my demise probably."

She bent down, "What's he have waiting for me? Hmmm? Where's he going to place me?"

"I don't know, but he's not worried about you." sobbed Sam

"Really? Interesting, and I think I know why." She said as she looked at Anna then Gwyn. She looked at her mother "She didn't resist, and I've seen everything. She's naive as usual. He took advantage of her is what he did. She's too blind to see beyond his bullshit as always but she's still a risk."

Liara nodded, "Sam, my word still stands. You will live this way until I say otherwise." She pointed to Nori, "Nori, I've seen your version, and you will remain with her until further notice. Gwyn, they'll both need a basic hand terminal." She said as she gave a quick brow marking raise at her and her daughter acknowledged. She turned to Shandri and said, "Please, get her out of my sight."

-/

The instant Sam was removed from their home, Liara walked to the fireplace mantle and leaned on it. She took several ragged breaths as tears trickled down her face. She stood there as the pain continued to stream from her eyes. She turned her head slightly when one of her daughters said: "Mother, there's something else."

Liara wiped her face then sniffled as she turned "What else?"

Benezia stepped toward her as she replied: "She befriended Thomas again to gain internal information, and he refused multiple times but after some sexual deeds he gave in." She took a deep breath, "Mother, she's not as stupid as she plays out to be. She's very persuasive and cunning actually, vindictive even. She got Thomas to go back on his word to us. Knowing damn well what we would do to him if we ever found out. She has a darkness within her; it's extremely faint but it's there." She looked down then at her mother, "The same darkness I battle within myself."

Liara looked down and softly said, "I know that darkness. It's a bundle of things. Rage, hate, hurt, loss..."

Benezia slowly shook her head "No mother not that type of darkness." She glanced at her bondmate then at everyone else "The darkness I speak of is death, fear, and power. The sense of gratitude when you take the life of someone through sheer power and the feeling is overwhelmingly satisfying. That's the darkness I speak of, but she has both."

Liara furrowed her brow markings as she walked toward her daughter, "Benezia, why didn't you come to me about this?"

"What was I supposed to tell you? That I actually enjoy it when I kill someone with my bare hands. Hmm? To look in someone's eyes and see them quiver in fear. Is there something wrong with me? Yes, I already know there is. I don't go around killing random people just for the fuck sake of it, but give me a reason to do so, and I will jump at it."

Her eyes widen, then she looked at Mili. "Did you know about this?"

Mili nodded, "I've known for decades. We have the same darkness, but hers is more visible than mine and why she visits the Armax when she does. It's not only to practice but to feed that hunger on bots instead of living beings."

Liara shook her head and softly said, "I know of what you speak. I've had the same sensation." She looked at her other daughters then at Anna. "Have you had this feeling? Any of you when you've practiced at the Arena? How about you Anna when you're in the field?"

They shook their heads, and all replied, "No." Their mother nodded then said, "It must be something with the golden gene and biotics because the feeling is different when you use a weapon than when you use biotics." She looked at Benezia and Milizkia when they nodded, "Benezia, you can sense that gene. You knew I had it, and you knew Mili had it. That means Sam is a carrier. Has she—"

Benezia quickly shook her head "No, she hasn't found her box."

Liara ran her hand over her mouth "This could change everything if she ever does. Especially if she joins Cameron."

"We need to keep her away to reduce risk but close enough to maintain coverage." Replied Anna

Liara narrowed her eyes as she pulled at her lip "Shit...I can't let her just go without punishment, but I can't go through with what I've told her. Especially with this new information, this would only give Cameron more leverage. What if I just…I don't know bumped her up to middle class?"

Benezia shrugged, "Tough choice. I know you said join Cameron, but that was a psych threat. If life gets too hard for her, then she just may. You pulled this similar method with Anna but she actually learned from it, will Sam? We grew up with everything and we are used to getting what we want. Our pockets run deep and are unlimited but when it's all taken away, we attempt to cope but it's not our way of life. She is not Anna or anyone of your stronger willed daughter's."

Liara let out a long breath as she placed her hands on her hips and nodded. "I know, and out of all of you, she's the worst. She has no strive to be independent or make something of herself but maybe it's because I let her take the normal asari route instead of the Academy like you four. You all wanted to be somebody, a Spectre, a CEO, a Doctor, and an Inventor…" She paused then glanced at her younger two that were sitting on a couch in complete shock "This family meeting doesn't leave this room. Do you understand?"

They both quickly nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

Liara began to pull at her lip. "She's eighty-five years old and hasn't accomplished a damn thing. Well, except school, and that was a struggle. I honestly don't know what to do with her. I expected more from her."

"I don't know mom... maybe that's what she wants us all to think. She played all of us, and we never even caught on that it was her until recently. Sneaky bitch." said Benezia

Liara grimaced, "True." She looked over at Shay and said: "Keep them here in restrictive care until I figure out how to handle this."

Riley stepped forward, "You're right; she's not like us, and if you exile her completely, then she will wither away into that darkness you speak of. She's the type that needs company and why she's constantly with someone, whether it's a friend or with one of us. I honestly don't think it was just to infiltrate because she attempted to work with us before this all happened with Miranda." She glanced at Benezia "She takes to you especially Nezzie and you know that." She looked at everyone then said, "I'm hurt and I'm upset with what she's done but I think some of your terms are extreme. I understand blacklisting her from our companies. I understand making her live harshly to see if she'll do something with herself but to exile her completely and to strip our name from her? Come on."

Liara looked down, "Your right that is extreme, and I spoke in anger. What should I do then?"

"Something that doesn't require complete exile from us. If she dips into that darkness and it swallows her whole, then who knows who she will become when she exits. We can't take that chance." Replied Riley

Anna grit her teeth then said, "Mother, I have a possible solution, and I think everyone will agree. If you could bring Sam back in here, then I will reveal what I want to say when she is." She paused, "Being the eldest, I will take on the responsibility of what comes next."

Liara's brow markings rose. "Ok…" She looked at Shay and said, "Bring them back in here."

Sam walked back in, and Anna walked to the center of the living room, "Don't speak just come stand right here." She said as she pointed off to the side. She rubbed her lip for a moment then spoke, "Mother has spoken her words, and we convened after your dismissal. We agreed to most of it when others did not. As a family, some said nothing as I presume they agreed when others spoke their differences and as the eldest, I've come to a conclusion of what should happen in lieu of mother's decision." She rose a finger "Now, I haven't explained to them what I'm going to do but I'm going to take on the responsibility of you for x amount of years. This next part is my suggestion. For you to be at the TSS Academy for x amount years where you will learn what it means to be part of a larger group. It seems as if you feel that you can only count on Cameron and that's not true. I understand that you grew up together and that you two have your niche as we have ours and Joni and Katie have theirs. What our family needs to understand is, yes, we grew up at different times but we are all a family. There's not one of you that we don't think otherwise. I will say that I'm not the easiest person to get along with and I will be blunt when somethings on my mind." She smiled when the others chuckled, "You all know how I am and some of you better than others but I am who I am. We are who we are but there are times in our life where we might have missed something or didn't learn something for us to be better at who we are or what we're meant to be. I feel that maybe you have…missed something. I think that if you go through this program, you will learn how to be more of a suitable being." She rose her finger again, "Meaning… that you will become more than you are today because what you are today is unacceptable."

"You will live and breathe in a squad where there's pull on both ends and not just one-sided. To learn of your surroundings and to have ties with other squad members. To earn trust and to gain trust as you build your relationship with your crew. You've obviously missed this part in your life." She scrunched her brow markings as she sucked her teeth "You need…something. I don't know if this is that something, but we know you can't be "alone" in a sense. A social butterfly such as yourself, will be detrimental. Therefore when your training is finished, you will remain there and work there until we say otherwise. During your training, you will live in a dormitory with your squadmates and once your training is finished, I will set you up in one of the more "luxury" teacher housing units. If you wish to go off-campus, then you will do so upon my approval, Nori and one of my soldiers will accompany you." She paused and looked at everyone then continued, "Is this suitable for you or would you prefer mother's option?"

Sam looked at her eldest sister, then her mother and sisters "I would prefer Anna's option."

Liara smiled. "An excellent compromise Anna. I'll agree to it on one condition." She walked over to Sam and leaned in closely. "If you go through this and in the end, you still jeopardize this family, then your punishment will be severe. Do you understand?"

Sam nodded and quickly replied, "Yes, ma'am. I won't, I promise."

"Understand this… Anna runs that Academy and very well at that. She's placing her trust in you even after you broke it. While you're there, her word stands and don't think she'll give you any special treatment. Understand what your signing up for because this isn't a vacation, and the main reason why you deterred from the Academy the first time around."

She huffed as she scanned the living room. "Well, it's either this or low-end shitville or criminal town, right? It's not like I have very many choices. I'd rather go through hell than live in shitville or criminal town." She glanced down at her fingernails. "Besides, your hell actually has accommodations."

Liara arched a brow at her response then glanced at Anna. "Very well… I guess that's settled." She looked at Shay. "Have her escorted to the Academy and set her up in housing until Anna is ready to place her somewhere. Oh and Shay make sure you prep her room." She said with a quick brow marking raise.

Shay nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

After Sam was escorted out, she turned to her eldest "She thinks she has an ace in the hole with her completion of secondary and university schooling. Her position there will be the first unusual situation ever. This is a punishment, not a vacation for her to lounge around campus.

I want her in something at all times and make her life a living hell. Get her ass on a job starting tomorrow, scrubbing pans for all I care."

Anna smirked, "I was already on the same page as you, mom. I've got something for that little asshole..."

Benezia let out a snicker then said: "Yea, like your foot in her ass with no lube."

Anna chuckled as she rubbed her hands together, then said, "Exactly. Hannah Shepard style." Her laugh tapered off when her mother arched her brow marking at her. "She won't be with the other asari that are there to actually learn. Oh no, that would be… too easy. First, she'll go through officer training with a bunch of humans where she'll be the oddball out and a hurdle she'll need to overcome. Once she completes her leadership and health fitness portion of officer training, then she'll be in advanced outdoor wilderness training. Where I'm going to drag her prissy ass through fucking grime and mud." She mocked her sister as she looked down at her nails, "Oh…I broke a nail." Then she grunted, and her voice became raspy "I'm going to make her sleep in the dark spooky woods mmmhmmm and the wind is going to rattle her tent in the midst of the night as the owls are going to be coo cooing in her ear all night long mmhmmm." She paused for a brief moment then loudly said: "Who de whooo!" She smirked when some of them jumped and her mother began to snicker.

"You are such a fucking asshole," Benezia said as she laughed

The others began to laugh as she said, "I can see her face now as the wild animals chatter all night long. Ca caw ca caw! Who de whooo! Eeeee eee eee!"

Liara covered her face as she snorted in laughter, and everyone laughed at her snorting. Liara shook her head, then said, "What is wrong with you?"

Anna shrugged as she laughed. "She'll be begging me for shitville by the end of the first year."

Liara shook her head as she chuckled. "She's locked in, and there will be no changing. I don't care how much she begs and pleads for leniency."

"Oh, I know..." replied Anna as she smiled.

Her mother nodded then replied, "All fun aside, this is going to be a challenge for you. She's going to quit and beg for it to stop. She will probably put up a fight and even retaliate because she's the only one that doesn't want to be there. For her, this is a prison sentence, for the humans a place to become an officer and for the asari a chance to become someone. I know in the beginning you're going to have your fun, but in the end, she needs to come away as a better person."

Anna looked down, then nodded, "I know. I will have my fun, but I do understand the overall goal."

—/

Several weeks before. Earth – The Facility.

Cameron exited his ship and looked around the area "Hmm... she said you were at this location. Knowing you, you would do something cunning." He looked over at Thomas Crispin then pointed to the open horizon. "She's hidden somewhere out there. Find her!"