Liam was absolutely determined to keep his mouth shut. After their last trip to Kadara when he had his little outburst, he was surprised in the best way that Ryder wanted him to come along. He wasn't going to make an ass out of himself again. This was a great opportunity to show he wasn't a clingy jerk.

He certainly didn't need a repeat of his last disastrous not-relationship. If he thought about it, he could still picture Dee's face, wincing, telling him that clingy wasn't his best look and honestly, if he'd just let things develop naturally they might have gone different. Sara wasn't much like Dee, or any of his past girlfriends or not-exactly-girlfriends. She wasn't much like anybody. He still couldn't quite figure out how somebody so damn sweet could get so much done- she went from holding Jaal while he cried to killing the Cardinal in cold blood in less than half an hour back at that kett base. It might not work out between them- but he'd be damned if it didn't work out just because he couldn't keep his foot out of his mouth.

So he endured Vetra's brusque inquiries about his kit with the best grace he could muster, and did his best to focus up when the Nomad slowed to a stop. A short hike up a hill to a natural cave, and they could stand right next to Sloane Kelley. He couldn't understand at all why Ryder wanted to help the woman, but he kept his mouth shut about that, too.

He followed Ryder into the cave- flanking her on her right, while Vetra took the left. Vetra might not ever like him, but they agreed on this without having to say a word. Ryder's safety had to come first.

Even if she was just walking into an obvious trap next to Slone Kelley.

"You look like you're waiting for someone," Reyes drawled, stepping out of the shadows. Liam almost cursed, his finger twitching on his gun, but he held it together.

Reyes. Freaking. Vidal. Of course it had to be him.

"I'm here to meet the Charlatan, not some third-rate smuggler," Sloane scoffed. Never thought he'd agree with that woman.

"They're one and the same," Sara said.

Okay, what?

Liam exchanged a look with Vetra. She didn't know what was going on, either. And how long had Sara known that? Was that . . . had Reyes told her? Did they. . .

With an immense effort of will, Liam forced himself to focus up. Every hair on the back of his neck was prickling. This had the air of a trap that was working perfectly- except it wasn't his trap, and he didn't trust the man in front of him to breathe right much less look out for their best interests.

"The Roekar spy. The murder investigation. All of it was to undermine Kelley's power," Sara said. And maybe it was just his hope, but it sounded like she was just not putting it together herself.

"Death by a thousand cuts," Reyes said.

"You said you wanted to settle things. How?"

"A duel. You and me. Right now. Winner takes Kadara Port." Reyes jumped down from his high rock, meeting them on their level.

"You want to stop a war by shooting each other?" Ryder asked.

"Two people shooting each other is better than a lot of people shooting each other," Reyes said. And goddamnit, he actually agreed. If this was for real it was cool as hell. And brave.

"I'll take those terms," Sloane said. They began circling each other.

And then, the shot.

Kelley fell- and Liam's gun rose just like Vetra's, trained on the people pouring out of the shadows. But no one seemed to care about them, or Ryder, at all.

And she set off talking with Reyes like she didn't think there was anything dangerous about the man at all.

He caught just the first words- Ryder saying she guessed Reyes got what he wanted- and then they were off by themselves, speaking too low to hear.

None of his business anyway. He needed to be watching the rest of the Charlatan's crew. They picked up Sloane's body with practiced efficiency. He didn't even want to know what they had planned for it.

Ryder came back alone, and quickly. She stalked out of the shadows and past them, out of the cave, with a deep frown on her face. Another glance at Vetra, and both of them followed.

And slowed, almost in step, when they saw Sara standing by the Nomad. She looked. . . pissed. And she wasn't moving. Just standing there, hands balled at her sides, staring off into the distance.

Vetra stepped forward first.

"So that was a surprise," the turian said. Sara actually turned around, her expression clouded. "Did you know about that?"

"No, and I should have. I feel . . . real stupid, right about now," Sara admitted. That tugged at his heartstrings and no mistake. He holstered his weapon, and sidled up next to her.

"Lies say more about the liar than the audience," he said. And he wasn't even sure he was making sense, but he wanted to say something that would help. "You're brilliant. Good at lots of things. This is on him."

"Right," Vetra said, shooting him a look over Ryder's head and yes, he knew his mouth was an idiot, no one knew more than him. "Like you said before. Who has time?"

Before? Oh. Right. He was actually there for that conversation. Who has time for a relationship?

Did that mean she was in a relationship with Reyes?

He could feel his blood pressure spiking. He forced himself to take a deep breath, in, then out. And again. There was no room here for his ego. He'd told her, hadn't he, that he was a big boy-wouldn't get clingy. He'd weathered one-sided feelings before.

This just felt. . . worse. Like his lungs were sinking down into his guts and his guts were crawling up his throat.

He took another deep breath.

"Yeah, well. . ."Ryder sighed, and for some reason she was looking at. . . him. Why? What did that mean?

Probably nothing. Right? He was just losing his mind.

"Look," he said, clearing his throat, "Call's made. The Charlatan runs Kadara port, and he'll be a lot friendlier than Sloane. Today's a win for the Initiative, Pathfinder."

"Yeah." Ryder straightened at that, and smiled her little half smile that made him feel fizzy in all the best ways. "Gotta remember the wins."