Liara

"There is nothing here." I looked from our small hiding place down onto the expanse beneath us.

It was full of crates and antiquated equipment, a truly forgotten memory of the time when Omega was a mining plant on the asteroid that became the station that became the end of all things. I pulled at the collar of my armor, attempting to encourage airflow. The heat in this part of the station was stifling, and the exertion from earlier had reminded me of how little I had eaten, drank, and slept in the last few days.

I did not even have proper comprehension of the passing of time. I sighed, looking down into the barely illuminated shipping dock, and began to doubt the information that Aria had given us.

"Do you think the Queen of Omega would lead us astray?" I wondered aloud, looking at Feron. "Seeing as you warned me that I had grossly displeased her."

Feron shrugged. "You never know with Aria." he replied. "But I think she was more shaken by your dropping the information about the Collectors in her lap than she was by you. Any other time I'd think she might have intentionally knocked us off course. But not this one. These coordinates are too obscure to just be thrown at us as a distraction."

"You believe we're early then?"

"I hope so." Feron scrutinized the area, cursing the lack of light under his breath. "I'd certainly like to have an advantage. The Blue Suns have neither an overabundance of intelligence or skill, however they do have a lot of manpower. That's enough to make us need a damn good advantage, if we can get one."

"So I am right in believing that the Broker does not hire those who possess inquiring minds." I teased him with my observation, though it was not strictly in jest.

Feron nodded. "It depends on the job, really." he answered. "Something like this…too many inquiries are a bad idea. Especially with the Collectors being involved. Which makes me wonder how much they want this."

"Whatever do you mean?" I inquired, illuminating my hand with biotics and searching the area we had concealed ourselves in. A staircase led to the floor below, the only safe exit, as leaping from the platform we stood on, concealed by crates, promised a broken leg, or worse, from the elevation.

Feron frowned. "You're not stupid, Liara. How often do the Collectors do anything newsworthy? They emerge from wherever they hide so rarely that most don't even believe they exist. Shepard is…famous. She's the hero of the fucking galaxy. Why, if they're so intent on secrecy, are they making deals for her corpse?"

Because of the Reapers. I wanted to say, but I held my tongue. Feron had not earned enough trust to be privy to that manner of information. In fact, if he were still intent on working for the Broker, I might not be safe in the moments to come.

"You know as well as I." I answered.

"And you know more than you're saying." Feron muttered.

"Yes, I do." I smiled, letting him know that he would receive no further information from me.

Not now, and possibly not ever.

Feron shook his head. "I suppose that's fair." he said.

A loud thunk echoed through the room and the lights went on, revealing several of the Blue Suns in their indicatively colored armor milling about on the ground. Feron and I ducked behind the crates though we were so out of the way I doubted we would be noticed were we to lift our heads.

"Looks like Aria was right." Feron looked up and surveyed the situation. "And we got here early. As soon as they bring the body out, we can move. This should be nice and easy."

I raised my head and watched as a single, small, obviously high-end, ship entered the large hangar bay. It landed without a sound and the ramp dropped with the low hiss of hydraulics. I scanned the area once more, watching as several of the Blue Suns fought with an obviously heavy burden.

Shepard…my heart kicked against my ribs with a decidedly painful thump. I turned my attention to the ship's passenger.

A heavily armored, heavily armed, huge salarian disembarked the ship. His complexion was a dark green, and his stature lifted him above even the krogan Blue Sun who greeted him. Large black eyes shone with brutality, and his mouth seemed set in a permanent line of unpleasantness.

"Damn it!." Feron hissed beside me. "Did I say this was going to be easy? Forget it, forget I said anything like that."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, keeping my voice low, as I was afraid that his increasing volume would draw unwanted attention.

"The Broker would send Taz for this pickup." Feron muttered, but he was speaking to himself. "First the crazy asari, then Cerberus, now this…my day just gets better and better."

"The salarian?" I pushed my inquiry further. "Why does it matter who the Broker sent for pickup?"

"Because Tazzik is the Shadow Broker's only contract killer." Feron spat the words. "The Suns are nothing, hired muscle, slime who'll shoot at anything for the right amount of credits. Taz is a…specialist. He gets results. Quick, clean kills, then he's gone. If the Broker sent him…our lives just got a lot more difficult."

I pursed my lips and watched as the Blue Suns led Tazzik to a pod, specially built for the holding of bodies. Red lights glowed, illuminating the status of its contents. My heart threatened to shear in two. The strong, vibrant, wise, beautiful soldier I loved had been reduced to the contested contents of a box.

"Is that Shepard?" Tazzik asked, the deep tones of his voice, antithetical to most salarians, startled me.

"Yeah." the krogan answered. "What's left of her anyway. I'm shocked there's that much. Human body must be able to take a lot of punishment."

You've no idea. I thought as unwanted tears pricked my eyes. You've no idea how she suffered. The horrors that her life comprised. Now she is dead…in that box…lost to all who loved, admired, and needed her.

"I've known some that couldn't." Tazzik smiled, and it was a sick baring of teeth. "Your credits are here, but if this is some sort of trick, I will come back. And there won't be need for a box for what's left of you."

All of the gang members backed away. Biotic energy swirled around me and I stood, ready to take Serena back, to preserve her from the machinations of her enemies.

"It's her. Let's go." I whispered, heading for the staircase. Feron's arms arrested me and I fought against him.

"Liara, it's too risky!" Feron hissed. "We can't make a move now."

"No." I shouted in a whisper. "You won't keep me from her again! I did not get almost killed and drawn into a Cerberus trap for you to stop me now!"

"That's what you think I'm doing? Still carrying out the original mission? Keeping you away?"

"I've no reason to believe otherwise." I struggled and he let me go.

"That's not it at all." Feron stressed the words. "I've seen Tazzik's work. He'll rip you apart in seconds. We have to have an advantage." he looked around, and his eyes widened as he saw what looked like a turret gun.

"Look, that's an old defense gun from when this mine was constantly pirated. I'll bet everything it's still functional. One shot will disable Tazzik's ship."

"Excellent." I nodded my approval. "But I have to get down there before they move her and your blast disables his ship and ruins what's left of Shepard."

I crept down the stairs as fast as I could, readying my biotics, my pistol, and my mind. I had fought beside Shepard. I had fought with Shepard. This would be the first time that I had fought for her. And I looked forward to it.