Sam was all set up. It had taken some tweaking – the equipment wasn't exactly standard-issue, nor was it manufactured recently – but she had two screens and an HI interface to control them both. She could now watch what Shepard could see, monitor the code itself for the comms, and her omnitool would project a 3D map of the area.

All this on a sprained ankle and an empty stomach. She was actually rather proud of herself.

Speaking of that empty stomach, however...

"Commander, is there any-"

Sam was cut off by a hand thrusting out in front of her. Sam blinked for a moment, then saw that it was Shepard's hand and it held a ration bar. Sam snatched it up and immediately tore it open.

Shepard snickered. "I was told I should make sure you eat," Shepard explained. "That you get eyeballs-deep in a problem and don't surface unless forced to."

Sam rolled her eyes, but nodded. "Ashley does know me well."

"She does. She also knows what it's like to be in combat. And so do I. You get out and you want to eat an entire side of beef."

"Oh my god, a steak does sound amazing," Sam said, the ration bar suddenly tasting like chalk. She took another bite. Yes, chocolate-flavored chalk. Best-tasting chalk she'd ever had, though.

Shepard snickered again. "Eat that, drink a liter of water, and then let me know when you're back. Aria and I are headed out in ten minutes and we need to discuss our route and all that."

"Aye aye," Sam said, a sloppy grin on her face. Aaaaand there's drunk Sam.

She left Shepard in search of water before she could embarrass herself. Drunk Sam appeared when she was drunk but also after sex or intense exercise – basically, if Samantha had endorphins in her system, she was going to say something very stupid with a sloppy grin.

Better to avoid speaking entirely until she had calmed down.

Eight minutes later, Shepard found her at her station, trying to type a message to Ashley, but it wouldn't go through.

"What's up, Traynor?"

Sam looked up, then sighed and closed down her omnitool. "I'm bloody done with these Cerberus viruses. And the extranet being knocked out."

"We're gonna get so much more of that," Shepard warned.

"I know. Luckily, I've picked up some tricks from EDI. It takes me longer to implement them than a bloody AI, but she and I wrote a few programs in my spare time to detect and implement countermeasures. It helps, but I still can't get anything out of our immediate vicinity."

"Trying to let Williams know you're alive?"

Sam nodded, sighing again. "Yes, something like that." She straightened and pulled up her board. Grey metal showed itself on one screen, and Sam looked over to see Shepard's helmet on a crate nearby, facing the wall – meaning its camera was, as well.

"So we're going after a merc gang," Shepard said.

Sam nodded. "All right. Do I get to know why?"

"Numbers. They're resisting Cerberus, we're resisting Cerberus. The enemy of my enemy and all that."

Sam nodded. "Right."

"Petrovsky still has the Council. But I've looked into his dossier. He'll surrender rather than die, I'm sure of it. The Council is a bargaining chip, but he still can't do much if we cut him off from his army. Meaning we also need an army."

Sam nodded again. "Makes sense. I'll do what I normally do." She began typing, but was quickly confused. "Nyreen's tag is gone," she said. "Did she go somewhere?"

"Dammit, Bray," she heard behind her. As one, Sam and Shepard turned to see Aria standing with the batarian, the latter with his head down. "If I weren't already short on manpower..."

Then she turned and walked up to Shepard. "Nyreen gave us the slip. We don't have time to find her. I know she won't hinder us, but I wanted to keep that particular variable under control." She took a deep breath, pinched the bridge of her nose, and continued. "We need to get the Talons on board. Let's go, Shepard."

Shepard looked like she wanted to say something, but instead she nodded. "Yeah okay. Traynor, you got everything you need?"

"Yes, Commander," Sam said.

"See Bray if you need anything else," Aria said. "And let me know immediately if Nyreen somehow pops up on the comms."

"Yes, of course," Sam said. She turned to her board, feeling the presence of the other two recede. Sam, meanwhile, quickly disappeared into her the other reason she was here: she was going to hack into enemy communications, see if she could figure out what they were doing, where they were concentrated, and what they might have done with the prisoners from the Citadel. The fact it would also help Shepard and Aria get where they were going was just a benefit.

She felt a little guilty that her priorities weren't precisely where they should be. But only a little.

Ashley returned to the ship in a somber mood. She had gotten a drink with Kolyat and Tim, but nobody felt much like saying anything. Tim and Kolyat had retired to the drell's apartment after Tim got some things from the studio, and Ashley was retiring to the Normandy after getting her full requisitions from the Alliance. Neither of them felt much like staying at the studio with it so empty and quiet.

They left unsaid that they hoped it wouldn't be empty and quiet forever.

"Ashley."

Stepping out of decon Ashley looked up to see Liara waiting in the hall outside the cockpit. She hadn't seen her since the face-off with Miriam earlier that day. God, it's only been half a day.

"Hey, Liara."

Liara walked up to her slowly. "Thane passed?" she asked.

Ashley nodded. She began walking toward the lift, and Liara fell in step beside her.

"I am sorry to hear that," she said. "He was a good man. You had become close, had you not?"

"Yeah, we had. We were patients together at the hospital."

They stepped onto the lift together. "You don't seem like you would have had much in common," Liara observed.

Ashley shrugged. "We first bonded because he caught me praying." Ashley took a deep breath, willing the sudden rush of tears down.

Liara put a hand on her arm. "I am sorry you lost him, Ashley."

"I just wish I could stop losing people." She swallowed and stepped off the lift.

Liara continued walking with her. "You will not lose her, Ashley. We will not lose any of them."

Ashley's breath caught in her throat and she nodded. She couldn't speak or she would start sobbing again, but she really wanted to believe that. She really wanted to believe that Miriam would keep Sam safe, and that they would both return with her family in tow.

The thought of her family did it. Ashley's whole body felt suddenly weighed down, and a sob exploded out against her will. She was halfway through a relatively empty mess hall, but Ashley didn't know where to go to get true privacy. Liara saved her, taking hold of her arm and whisking her somewhere while Ashley battled for control over her tears.

After a moment they were inside a room, nobody else around.

"Ashley, please, sit," Liara said. Ashley crashed into the chair offered, barely taking in the details of the room as she let her tears wash over her. She was so worried. Everything kept happening and happening and she had no time to just sit and think. The hospital had given her time, and while she'd hated sitting on her duff so much, she hadn't wanted this.

Twelve hours ago she'd been sparring with Thane. Now he was dead, her family was abducted, and Sam was the one off helping to save them. It was too much, too fast.

Liara was absent while she cried, but Ashley didn't mind. They had been close once, after the Normandy was destroyed. But that had been years ago and Liara was no longer a person Ashley much recognized. That was okay, she could live with that, but it meant they didn't truly know each other anymore.

Yet another person Ashley had lost, though thankfully she had the opportunity to find her again. Maybe they could be friends once more?

Ashley's tears began to subside, and she looked up, suddenly marveling at all the tech in the room. Then a bottle appeared before her.

Ashley took it gratefully, appreciating the burn of the liquid as she pulled three swallows back to back. She took a deep breath when she was done, finally focusing on Liara's face before her.

"Thanks," she said.

Liara smiled. "I do remember some about comforting an overcome marine."

Ashley laughed, shaking her head. Then she looked at the bottle, confirming what she'd just tasted. "You remembered my favorite?"

"It was only three years ago," Liara said, shrugging. "Tastes do change, but I thought I had a good chance of picking something acceptable even if it was no longer your preferred."

Ashley nodded and took another pull from the bottle. Then she looked around.

"So what is all this?"

Liara glanced behind her, then back at Ashley. "I am an information broker, Ashley. I..." She turned around, looking at all the screens, dark but turned toward Liara, almost like they were expectant. "I brought my trade here when you rescued me on Mars."

Ashley just stared at Liara. An information broker?! That's what she had gotten up to when Ashley had gone back to the Alliance? How did that even follow from archeology?

"I know it is strange," Liara said, turning back to Ashley. "Life takes one in strange directions. It certainly has for me." Her lips pulled up in a small smile. "Ever since three humans blew up my dig-site and changed everything."

Ashley snorted quietly. "We sure did come in with a bang, didn't we?"

"Knowing you and Miriam now, I am surprised in hindsight that the explosion was not bigger. Perhaps the influence of Kaiden on you both?"

Ashley's laugh was louder this time, but she sobered quickly. "We've lost so many, Liara."

"I know." Liara sighed, leaning back against her consoles. "The memorial wall is filling up. We just added Mordin Solus in the last couple of days."

Ashley remembered that wall. She had been part of its inception, wanting to honor Kaiden and the others they'd lost so senselessly on the SR-1. "Looks like we'll be adding Thane, too." She sighed, scrubbing a hand over her face. "I really hope that's all we're adding."

"The waiting is difficult," Liara said. "It always has been."

Something occurred to Ashley. "Is this what my non-com family goes through when I'm on the ground?"

"Likely. Though they perhaps do not have quite an accurate imagination for everything that could go wrong as you and I."

Ashley sighed and took one more drink. She was going to have a pleasant buzz soon.

"I was hoping I could get your help in something, actually," Liara said. She moved to Ashley's side and reached around her, pulling a terminal on an arm away from the wall. Ashley hadn't even noticed that's what this chair was for.

"What's up?"

"You're aware of the... situation with Kelly Chambers and Miriam, correct?"

Ashley perked up. "Yes."

"I know you met her and you spoke a few times on the Citadel and-"

"Wait. How? That was a secret. Nobody was near us."

Liara looked down at her, raised a brow, and pointed to the wall of monitors. "I am good at what I do, Ashley."

"Fuuuuuuuuck okay. Yes."

"I know you kept it from Miriam. So have I."

Ashley narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

Liara's hands stilled on her keyboard. "Ultimately for selfish reasons. I justified it by telling myself that Kelly did not want you to tell Miriam where she was. She did not want to complicate Miriam's life. Our lives. It was already complicated enough. But I know how worried about her Miriam is. I detect it there every time I see into her mind, soothe her other worries. I should have told her Kelly was safe and I did not."

Ashley stood, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're right, you should have. But I think I understand why you didn't. I didn't either. And if I were in your shoes…"

"I appreciate your understanding, but I am not looking to justify my decision or feel better about it. I have accepted that I made it. It was a mistake that I wish to rectify. But I cannot. Kelly has disappeared."

"I told her to go through C-Sec-"

"Yes, I know. It was smart, and I tracked her through the identity change. No, I mean she has disappeared since Cerberus tried to take the station today. There is no trace of her."

Ashley's heart sank. "Fuck..."

"Yes." Liara turned her monitor toward Ashley. "But it is strange. Her identity change would not change her DNA, nor the contours of her face, nor her dental records. The dead have all been catalogued. She is not among them."

Ashley tilted her head. "So she's... alive?"

"And perhaps not on the station," Liara said, nodding. "I have quite a lot of data to sort through. I was hoping you could look through the Spectre records and check C-Sec records in person. We can parallel process and perhaps find out what happened to her. We- I owe it to Miriam to have some answer when she returns. Even if it further complicates our lives."

Ashley nodded. "Yeah. Okay." She already felt better, filled with a sense of purpose.

"Thank you, Ashley."

"You're welcome, Liara. I..." She took a deep breath. "I've missed you. I hope we can be friends again?"

Liara smiled. "I hope we can, too, Ashley."

Ashley stepped out of the room, opening up her omnitool and keying in the ID for Bailey. Even if she found nothing, it was good to have something to do. She never could stand waiting on her duff.

"Commander, I hacked in to listen to Cerberus comms. Do you want to hear it, or just have me monitor it?"

{Isn't that her job? Monitoring communications?} said Aria.

Sam considered responding, but Shepard beat her to it.

{I like to listen sometimes, Aria. Not this time, though, Traynor. Tell me if you hear something useful.}

"Well, I've confirmed they're attacking the Talons. Th-"

{We knew that,} Aria drawled.

Sam narrowed her eyes, irritated. "Yes. Chatter indicates their priority target is in the area."

"Could be the Talon leader," chimed in Ahz, next to whom Shepard had stationed Sam.

Sam nodded. "That would make sense."

{Guess we'll be fighting our way through Cerberus to get to them,} Shepard said.

"I'll monitor your route and send any relevant course or communications information your way, Commander."

{Thanks, Traynor.}

Sam got to work monitoring the comms. She didn't think for a second she could try to convince Shepard to go after the civilians before the Council. Sure, Shepard had said that she didn't give a shit about the Council, that family was more important, but Sam knew the way things worked. Even if it wasn't just lip service, even if that was how Shepard truly felt, it didn't matter. The Council was the reason for her being here in any capacity that she could recount to her superiors. The galaxy needed its leaders. It didn't need Samantha Traynor's soon-to-be-in-laws.

Samantha could try, though. She could try to find them, to see if securing their safety might be simple, to see if they were on Shepard's path anyway. She could find them, confirm they were alive – or dead, however much she didn't want to think about that – and let Shepard know their location. She could do everything in her power and hope it was enough.

Sam was pulled out of her screens a few minutes later by a most colorful and familiar set of expletives.

"Of all the- bloody fuck!"

Sam looked behind her to see a long-haired, overalled woman hitting the console in front of her.

"Not cooperating?" she asked, the hint of a smirk on her lips.

The woman turned, looked Sam up and down, then sighed. "I was tasked with hacking computer communications to track troop movements and I'm having absolutely shite luck."

Sam's smirk bloomed larger. "Not completely. I've hacked comms chatter. It won't give you troop movements..."

"But it will go a whole lot farther than I've got on my own. Mind sharing?"

Sam was already typing. A few keystrokes later, and she'd shared what she knew with the woman.

"Thanks," the hacker said.

"We Brits have to look out for each other," Sam said.

The woman laughed. "It is strange to run into another out in the wild."

{Traynor. We need help.}

"Sorry, mate," she said to the hacker. "Duty calls."

"No worries. I'll share anything useful I get with Aria and Shepard."

Sam turned back to her screens to see Shepard looking at a door. "Sorry, Commander, I was getting some information from someone nearby. What do you need help with?"

{This door won't budge.}

Samantha looked closely at the door and at the command Shepard had entered on her omnitool. "I think you substituted a 3 for an E on your board."

Shepard fixed the code she'd entered, and the door popped open. {Thanks Traynor.}

"Don't mention it, Commander." Sam smirked. "I imagine lots of people get fat-finger-syndrome with those armored gloves on." She herself had removed the gloves when she'd taken up her spot at this console.

You are feeling good after that interaction with that fellow Brit, aren't you, Sammy?

Shut it. I'm allowed to have a little fun.

{You know I was thinking of promoting you when we got back to the Normandy,} Shepard said. {Consider that revoked.}

Sam sighed. "Well, you can't take the coin away. I hid it."

{Touché. Come on. Back to work.}

Sam giggled to herself and got back to work monitoring comms chatter.