Liara

I weighed Miranda's words. The recent firefight still hung in my mind, and I had little doubt that it had been those who worked for or with Miranda that had opened fire on the Blue Suns. The krogan gang leader had spoken truly when he said that many were looking for Shepard…and I could trust none of them.

"Shepard is dead." I said, keeping my tone firm though I did not know if the words I spoke were complete truth.

"So go the rumors." Miranda nodded. "But Shepard has a history of defying the odds."

"Death is not an odd." Feron countered, crossing his arms, distrust evident in his golden eyes. "It's not something that can be defied if it's already happened."

Miranda ignored the drell entirely, saving her frigid focus for me alone. "Dr. T'Soni, I represent someone who very much wants to work with you. I'm allowed to tell you this much—we might have a way to bring Shepard back."

I puzzled over the words and what this cold woman might mean by them. I had seen the dead returned to the world of the living. I had spoken to Avi Rivera; seen her supporting her once-lover after Sovereign crashed into the Citadel. But to bring the dead back to life…even with the amazing progress of technology on a daily basis...was impossible.

"What could you possibly mean by that?" I asked, feeling ill at ease as Miranda's expression did not change.

She seemed to wear a mask of composed, frigid confidence. Thus far, I had only seen that mask alter in the form of disdain. She turned such a look on me now, a calculated sneer.

"Just come with me." condescension dripped from her lips. "You can even bring your little drell friend. Today, we'll make an exception."

I glanced to Feron, but could read nothing in his features but anger at being dismissed by a human, an infant race in the galaxy.

"Do we have a choice?" I asked in a whisper.

Feron frowned. "We're pinioned." he muttered. "If we go it alone, we'll just be caught again."

I bit my lip and my bruised face protested the movement. "I do believe I am forced to side with the ones who have not pistol-whipped me."

"Well?" Miranda asked.

"Lead on." I relented, though I was not pleased with the decision. However, it seemed to be the sole one I could make. Better an offer of help than an offer of death.

"Good call." Miranda nodded, but her approval was fraught with patronization.

I bristled even as I fell in step behind her and her armed guards. She had no right to treat me or Feron in such a manner. I despised the superiority I saw in her walk, the sway of her hips, as though she owned the ground she traversed. Humans and their pride disgusted me. They had brought xenophobia back into the galaxy with a vengeance. It had never faded completely…but violence due to it had been all but eliminated.

At least in Council space, I amended my thoughts, remembering Feron's earlier comments. The Terminus Systems might be another situation entirely. Regardless…I do not see how humans hold themselves so far above those whose technology and knowledge and weaponry vastly outstrips their own.

I chafed at the thought of following a human anywhere. I had done so once, and it had been my undoing.

Though, my lips trembled as emotions fiercely tamped down resurged, Serena was…unlike most humans. Her pride was in her skill…but never did she condescend to another. Even in my gross ignorance, she never mocked me.

"Oh." Miranda snapped her fingers, but it was a practiced gesture, and I became apprehensive. "The secondary location we are headed to must remain a secret." she half turned and her eyes glittered. "I'm sure you understand."

Two quick bursts of air followed her statement and I looked down at the dart protruding from my shoulder, glaring at the human woman before my vision wavered. Beside me, Feron collapsed to the floor, and I thought I managed to curse before joining him in unconsciousness.

"Ugh." Feron's voice broke the quiet. "Fucking hell. What was in that? Liara? Liara, are you okay?"

After a brief fight with my eyelids, they remained opened and I took in the dim lighting of the room around us. Feron was already standing, examining our surroundings, using his omni-tool to scan a symbol embossed on the door.

"I…I think so." my jaw ached and I reached up and touched my injured cheek, surprised to find the wound had been treated with medigel. "Where are we?"

Feron stared at his omni-tool and my vision cleared enough to see the extreme displeasure stamped on his features.

"You made the wrong decision, Liara." he hissed. "No one should come here, us least of all! Look at this symbol!"

He shone the light on the symbol that had been embossed on the door; I recalled seeing it on Miranda's armor, over the left breast, much like a military uniform. But I had seen it before, too. I simply could not remember where.

"These people are Cerberus!" Feron hissed, kicking at the door in frustration. "They're dogmatically pro-human, and not just towards non-council species. Even an asari isn't safe from the things they're willing to do! I'm shocked they did not put a bullet in my skull on sight! No wonder that Miranda bitch was so high and mighty. She's a blithering xenophobe! With a violently xenophobic organization! Are you even aware of the crimes committed by Cerberus!?"

I got to my feet, trying to shake off the residual weakness from the sedative we had been unceremoniously shot with. I stared at the symbol on the door, attempting to ignore Feron's agitated energy swarming around me. My head ached with the memories I did not want to recollect, and yet seeing the Cerberus emblem brought them back in a wave that made acid rise in my throat.

"I am well aware of the atrocities they have committed." I whispered. "Even against their own."

As the words left my lips, my eyes closed and suddenly I was in another time, another place, standing beside Serena…