Shepard looked over the last two dossiers. Both were on Illium. He told Joker to set a course, he then triggered emails and soared to a surprise that Ashley had sent him one. It merely said that she was glad that he was alive, but she couldn't go with he was going. Once the mission was over Shepard but apologised to her properly, but he had focus on the mission.

When he went into the XO office he found Miranda look a little flustered.

"Shepard, I find myself in the unpleasant position of asking you for help," she said. "I don't discuss personal matters… but this is important."

This Shepard was surprised was an understatement. Something must be seriously wrong if Miranda was asking for help. "Miranda, you're one of my crew. Tell me what's on your mind."

"You remember what I told you about father… building eight dynasties?" she asked. "There was another reason I went to Cerberus for protection." She then got to her feet and approached him. "I have a sister. A twin. And he's still haunting her. Cerberus has kept her safe. Until now. She's living a normal life on Illium, safe and hidden for my father."

"So you think your father has tracked her down."

"Precisely, Commander." Miranda nodded. "My sources indicate he knows that she's on Illium. I've tried to keep her head in without impacting her life, but I'm out of options." She then began to pace up and down looking immensely frustrated. "He's too close. I need to relocate my sister's family before it's too late."

"What you know about your sister?" Shepard asked.

"She's my genetic twin. We're identical." She then looked at him with a firmed and determined look. "But she deserves a normal life. And she's going to get it, no matter what."

"What do you need me to do?"

"My father is extremely persistent. I'd like to go to Illium when services moving the family to make sure none of his agents get too close. My contact's name is Lanteria. She'll be waiting for us in the lounge near the Nos Astra docking bay."

They were already heading to Illium and Shepard couldn't see the fault of making a pitstop. Especially if it involves protecting a young girl's family from a deluded father.

They soon landed on Illium and Shepard joined his team. They hadn't gone far into the docking station when an asari flanked by two guard mechs approached them. "Welcome to Nos Astra, Commander Shepard. We've been instructed to waive all docking and administration fees for your visit." This was probably the warmest welcome Shepard had experience in his entire career. "My name is Careena. If you need information about the area, it would be my pleasure to assist you."

"Who instructed you to waive the fees?" Shepard asked curiously.

"The order came from Liara T'Soni, who paid all fees on your behalf." Careena touched her omnitool. "She also asked that I direct you to speak with her at your convenience. She's near the trading floor."

Shepard asked Careena more about the planet and discovered that it was a free-trading world. She also advised not a sign, because contract terms were more relaxed here than on other planets. She also told them that you could buy indentured servants, but assured that all of them had voluntarily agreed to terms of service in order to pay off debt or avoid imprisonment. She also said the contract must look after their servants and their duties agreed upon before signing.

"You said Liara was here? Was is she doing?" Shepard asked.

"Liara is one of Nos Astra's most respected information brokers. Nos Astra is based upon trade. Information is a valuable currency, and Liara has done quite well. As I said, you'll find near the trading floor. She was looking forward to seeing you."

Shepard decided to go see Liara and found in the middle of a conversation with a hologram.

"Have you faced an asari commando unit before? Few humans have. I'll make it simple. Either you pay me, or I flay you alive. With my mind."

Shepard stood in the doorway, staring at Liara. Okay, apparently he'd missed a few things in the last couple years. She then turned around and saw Shepard standing there.

"Shepard!" Her eyes widened. "Nyxeris, hold my calls." And then he was being hugged. "Shepard…" A small smile came to his face as he hugged her back. "My sources said you were alive, but I never believed… It's very good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too, Liara. How are you doing?"

She turned away and looked out the window. "I'm doing well. I've been working as an information broker." She shrugged and turned back to him. "It's paid the bills since you…" She trailed off. "Well, for the past two years. And now you're back, gunning for the Collectors with Cerberus." She sat down at her desk.

He sat down across from her. "That's not exactly public knowledge."

"Neither is you being alive, Shepard. Information is my business now. And if you need information on finding people, I'm happy to help."

"There's an asari named Samara here on Illium. Do you know where I could find her?"

"Samara…" Liara glanced at her desk for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. She arrived recently and registered with Tracking Officer Dara." She looked back up at Michael. "You can find Dara at the transportation hub."

"Why would Samara have to register with a tracking officer? Is she a criminal?" Shepard raised an eyebrow.

"No, in fact she's quite the opposite. Samara is a justicar, one of an ancient sect of asari warriors. Dara can tell you more."

"I'm looking for Thane Krios. He's supposed to be here on Illium."

"The assassin. Yes, he arrived here a few days ago. My sources tell me he may be targeting a corporate executive, Nassana Dantius. He contacted a woman named Seryna. Seryna has an office in the cargo transfer levels. Perhaps she can tell you where Krios is."

Shepard shook his head. "That was all just off the top of your head?"

"I'm a very good information broker, Shepard." She smiled. "The world of intrigue isn't that different from a dig site. Ecept that the dead bodies still smell."

"Thanks for the help. That's all I needed to know."

"Of course. If there's anything else I can help you with, let me know."

"What about you, Liara? I could use you help on this mission."

"I can't, Shepard. I'm sorry. I have commitments here. Things I need to take care of."

"What kind of things do you need to take care of? Are you in trouble?"

"No, no trouble. But it's been a long two years. I had things to do while you were gone. I have debts to repay." Got to her feet and she wasn't meeting his eyes. And kept turning away from him. "Listen, if you want to help, I need someone with hacking expertise, someone I can trust." She finally looked at him again. "If you could disable security at key points around Illium, you could get me information I need. That would help me a great deal."

"If it will help you, I'll take care of it."

"When you hack one, a server will open somewhere nearby for a short time. You can download data from there, if you hurry." She smiled. "Thank you, Shepard. This my help me pay a great debt."

Shepard then made his way over towards the lounge that Miranda had pointed out. He then had a nasty experience with the lounges owner, who slapped him across the face. Apparently one of his people was harassing her staff and demanding that he turnover the deeded to the place.

Wondering what was going on Shepard made his way to the bar and groaned, because he recognised the man instantly. It was Conrad Verner and he was wearing N7 armour.

"That's right! Anybody messing with me will answer to my good friend—" Conrad then stopped when he saw Shepard approaching him. "Commander Shepard?"

"Hey, if you know this idiot, you can rein him in before I slap his ass with a singularity?" said the bartender and Shepard could tell that she wasn't kidding.

"Shepard?" Conrad stared. "Is that really you? It's me, Conrad Verner! We met on the Citadel? I wanted to become a Spectre? You're alive! Oh, this is the happiest day of my life!"

Shepard rubbed his forehead. "Conrad… why are you acting like me?"

"Well, you were gone, right? And the galaxy still needed protecting. So I decided to finish what I started. In your honour."

"How do you get that armour?"

"Oh, they made some pretty convincing replicas these days, if you're willing to pay. Getting the whole getup was pretty expensive, but my wife was really supportive. She even paid for my shuttle fare off-world!"

Somehow that didn't surprise Shepard one bit, in fact it was still hard to believe that, Conrad had actually had a wife."

"Why were you trying to get the deed to this place?"

"This place is actually a friend of a red sand dealer. I need to take it over to crack the ring!"

The bartender stared at him. "What? Who the hell told you that?"

"The owner of that weapons stored near the carport! She's an undercover cop! She told me about it when I introduced myself."

The bartender rolled her eyes. "Listen, crap-for-brains: first, we don't sell red sand. Second, red sand is legal on Illium! You just need a licence!"

Shepard shook his head. "I'll talk to this undercover cop and figure out what's going on."

"Thank you," said the bartender with relief. "If I kill annoying customers, it usually causes property damage. That comes out of my pay."

"Just let me know if you need any help, Shepard!" said Conrad.

Shepard made his way over towards the arms dealer, who didn't recognise him and assumed that you are one of Conrad's friends. Using his silver tongue Shepard managed to convince her to go talk to the bar owner to hand over the deed.

She fell for it and even given him a discount to a store and then made her way over towards the bar.

Shepard waited about ten minutes before returning to the bar and found the weapons dealer being arrested. Conrad then walked over to him slightly confused.

"What happened?" he asked. "The undercover cop from the weapons kiosk just got arrested!"

Shepard wanted to tell him the truth, but was fearful for his reaction. "She wasn't a cop. She was a deep-cover operative from a terrorist cell. I'd never have found her if not for you."

Conrad looked up. "Really?"

"Really," said Shepard placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did a great job, Conrad. Now please, go home. Let me take it from here."

"Can do, Shepard. And thanks. It's really good to have you back."

The bartender was grateful for him to get rid of Conrad. Handout the bartender was in fact a matriarch, which was surprising. Apparently none of the asari agreed with her ideas of having their children working early on or creating their own mass relays.

She also had a complicated child hood, because her father was a krogan, who fought in the Rachni Wars, and her mother thought in the Krogan Rebellions. Apparently her mother didn't tell her father until she was a hundred years old and they ended up killing each other. She also seen how quite a few children including one from another asari as the father.

Miranda then led Shepard towards her contact, who was an asari by the name of Lanteia.

"Ms Lawson, I'm glad you made it," she said stretching up. "We've had a complication."

Miranda's eyes widened. "What happened? Is Oriana all right?"

"She's fine," Lanreia assured. "But… you listen a man named Niket as your trusted source? He contacted me, warning that your father has sent Eclipse mercenaries to make a sweep. He suggested that mercs might be watching for you personally. He'd offered an escort Oriana's family to the terminal instead."

Shepard looked at Miranda. "You didn't mention about, Niket."

"He's a friend," said Miranda. "He and I go back along way…"

"Do you want to bring in any of your other Illium contacts, Ms Lawson?" Lanreia asked.

Miranda shook her head. "No. You and Niket are the only two I trust on this."

Shepard looked at Miranda. "It's your sister, Miranda. What do you want to do?"

"Lanteia, we'll follow Niket's suggestion. Shepard and I will take the car and draw their attention. Have Niket escort the family to the shuttle. Give him full access to the family's itinerary, just to be safe."

Lanteia nodded. "Understood, Ms Lawson."

Shepard looked back at Miranda. "So the plan is for us to get shot down by Eclipse while your sister gets the safety?"

"Eclipse will be under orders to take my sister alive. They won't risk anything that could kill us."

"I'm ready whenever you are, Miranda."

Miranda nodded and they made their way towards the car. "Thank you, Shepard. I appreciate this. I hadn't planned on Eclipse… but they never planned on you."

They soon got in the car with Jacob and Garrus. Shepard wish they can get the others in on this, but the car only hold four. A few seconds later they discovered that Eclipse had been ready for them, because they had bought gunships with them.

"Damn it!" Miranda cursed. "Eclipse mercenary gunships. They'll be dropping troops in the cargo areas."

The gunships descended into the cargo areas and the Eclipse mercenary stand-off them well armed and shielded.

"Put us down enough cover behind them," said Shepard pointing at some crates.

"Let's hope they really do want to take us life," said Miranda as she bought the car down towards the cargo area.

Suddenly the Eclipse mercs fired at them. They didn't stop until the merc leader stepped forward.

"Hold fire. I said hold fire, damn it!" he commanded.

However the damage had already been dealt and the car landed on the ground hard and skidded to a halt. Fortunately none of them were worse for wear and the exit the car made their way to the Eclipse merc.

"I got this," said the merc leader.

"Since you're not firing yet, I trust you know who I am," said Miranda.

"Yeah. They said you'd be in the car," said the merc leader. "You're the bitch that kidnapped boss' little girl."

"Kidnapped?" Miranda shook her head. "This doesn't involve you. I suggest you take your men and go."

"Think you got it all lined up, huh?" the merc leader scoffed. "Captain Enyala's already moving in on the kid. She knows about Niket. He won't be helping you."

Shepard frowned. "Wait, Miranda. You said she was your twin sister."

"That what she told you?" the merc leader stared. "No, this crazy bitch kidnapped our boss baby daughter. He's been looking for her for more than a decade."

Miranda looked at Shepard uneasily. "It's complicated, Shepard. We share the same DNA, just not the same birthday."

"You took the baby girl from the richest guy in the galaxy, lady. I don't know what your damage is, but you're not get away with it."

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "You're not getting Miranda sister. If you push this, it'll go badly for you."

The merc leader folded his arms. "Captain Enyala ordered us to give you one chance to walk away. But this whole time we've been talking, my men have been lining shots up. When I say the word, we unleash hell on your squad. So I suggest you walk away nicely, unless you want things to get ugly."

Shepard's eyes then fell upon a crane that was lifting a tank of fuel over the heads of a group of mercs holding sniper rifles. He gave a sideways look to Miranda and she nodded.

Shepard then punched the merc leader in the gut and Miranda shot the merc next to him. Shepard then shot the crane holding the fuel tank which fell upon the snipers and exploded. Garrus and Jacob and shot the remaining Eclipse marks with their rifles.

"They really need to setup a better ambush," said Shepard.

"Strange how they knew we were in the car," said Garrus.

"We need to get Oriana and Niket fast," said Miranda.

They made their way through the cargo bay and eventually reached an elevator. Then they heard a voice and turned to find that it was coming from a radio from one of the following mercs.

Miranda picked it up. "Hang on. I've got one of their radios. I'll patch us in, see if we can get an idea what we're up against."

She then made her way back to Shepard and gave them an apologetic look. "Shepard… I think I owe you an explanation. Oriana is my twin, genetically. But my father… grew her when I was a teenager. She was meant to replace me. I couldn't let my father do that to her to her what he did to me. So I rescued her. She's almost a woman now."

Shepard frowned at her. "I understand choosing to go on your own way, but you stole a child from her father."

"If you knew my father, you would understand. I was the first one he made. I was only the first kept. I was brought up with no friends, pushed to meet impossible demands. I wasn't a daughter to him. I was… I didn't know what I was. Oriana has a normal life. I made the right decision."

After hearing that Shepard couldn't really blame her for taking Oriana away from that. "If Eclipse knows where Oriana is, they'll be moving in on her soon. We need to hurry."

Miranda nodded. "Agreed. I'm a bit worried about what the merc said. If they got to Niket somehow, this is going to be harder than I'd planned." They then made their way to the elevator. "According to the specs I reviewed, we'll need to cut across the cargo processing to get Oriana."

"I hope your friend can be trusted."

"Absolutely," Miranda assured. "Niket is one of my closest friends. I guess you could say he was my only real friend. He's the only person I cut ties with when I left my father."

Shepard was still troubled by what the merc said about him not helping them. "Is there a chance your father could be using Niket to get to you?"

"I'm sure he tried, but Niket's one of the few people who understand what my father is really like. I trust him with my life when I ran for my father. He won't betray me now."

Shepard nodded. "Let's go find Niket and Oriana."

"Right."

Shepard then activated the elevator and they went upwards.

They soon made their way to the cargo processing area and Eclipse mercs blocked their path. Fortunately Shepard was a crack shot and use the explosive materials around the area to their advantage cutting the numbers quite a bit.

Miranda didn't let anything stop used her biotics to toss the mercs across the area, she might have even broken a few bones. Jacob and Garrus assisted with cover fire taking out the heavy hitters.

Fortunately they were still keyed into the radio so they could hear the mercs conversation. They had a female voice and assumed that it was Captain Enyala speaking. "Divert everyone except my guard from Niket. I'll handle him and the kid personally."

"Damn it! I'm not letting her get Oriana," said Miranda firmly.

"Don't worry we'll stop them," Shepard assured.

"I still don't understand why your father was Oriana now," said Jacob. "She spent the last ten years with a normal family."

"My father doesn't care about that, he only cares about his legacy," said Miranda bitterly.

"A strange way to mark yourself in history," said Shepard.

They soon reached the far side of the processing area and were getting close the elevators.

"Eclipse operatives have attempted to delay you by disabling the elevators," said EDI over their comms. "I am overriding their lockdown."

"Thanks, EDI," said Miranda.

The elevator opened and several mercs emergence of shooting at them. Unfortunately for them they were few in number and were easily taken down one by one by Shepard, but he was pretty sure that Miranda killed the most.

"Niket has reached the terminal," said Captain Enyala's voice. "He'll switch the family over to our transport."

Miranda's eyes widened. "Niket? But… that can't be right…"

Shepard didn't like the sounds of this and quickly open the elevator and they entered into it.

"Maybe the captain knows we're listening in and she's feeding misinformation about Niket making a switch," said Miranda as Shepard closed the door behind them. "Or maybe mean something else. Niket wouldn't do that." She then slammed her fist against the controls. "Damn it, why won't this thing go any faster?"

Shepard frowned, Miranda didn't tell him the truth about Oriana. He suspected that maybe she didn't tell Niket the truth either. "Did Niket know that you took Oriana from your father?"

Miranda shook her head. "No, he just found out about that recently. It was too personal to involve someone else." Shepard raised an eyebrow. "I never really thought about it, but maybe… no." She shook her head. "He'd have to understand why I did it. He knows what I went through."

Shepard shrugged. "We won't know until we find Niket."

Miranda nodded. "And then I'll have a word with this Captain Enyala."

A few seconds later they reached the top of the elevator. When the doors open they heard a man's voice talking. "Listen to me, I've got authorisation to change their booking!"

"I'm sorry, sir," said the transport officer. "We're under security lockdown. Until the situation in the cargo terminal is resolved, no passengers can be rebooked."

The asari next to him glared, Shepard assumed that this was Captain Enyala. "This isn't worth my time, Niket. I get paid regardless of how the girl gets there."

"No!" said Niket firmly. "I was told that I could handle this my way. We're not traumatising the family any more than we—"

He then noticed for the first time that Shepard and Miranda were standing there and stared. He stared at Miranda for a while and his eyes widened. "Miri."

"This should be fun," said Enyala jumping off the crate she was sitting on.

She then pulled out a shotgun and the board and pulled out their own guns. The transport officer then ran, but Enyala shot her in the back and she fell.

Miranda glared at Niket. "Niket. You sold me out."

"How do you want to handle this, Miranda?" Shepard asked.

Miranda looked at Niket. "Why, Niket? You were my friend. You help me get away from my father."

Niket glared back at her. "Yes! Because you wanted to leave. That was your choice! But if I know you'd stolen a baby—"

"I didn't steal her! I rescued her!"

"From a life of wealth and happiness? You weren't saving her! You were getting back at your father!"

Shepard narrowed his eyes. "How did Miranda's father turn you?"

"They told me you'd kidnapped your baby sister all those years ago," said Niket looking at Miranda. "They said I could help get her back peacefully. No trauma to the family. I told and you'd never do that. That they can go to hell." He then crossed his arms and glared at her. "Then you finally told me what you'd done. I called them back that night."

"Why didn't you call me, Niket?" Miranda yelled furiously. "We've been through a lot. You could've have at least let me explain."

Niket narrowed his eyes. "I deserve to know you'd stolen your sister, Miri. I deserve to know you were with Cerberus. But I had to hear it from your father first."

"How much did Miranda's father pay you?" Shepard asked.

"A great deal."

Miranda looked at him furiously. "Damn it, Niket! You were the only one I trusted from that life."

"He knew you felt that way. That's why he bought the."

Miranda glared at him. "So you just took his money."

Niket narrowed his eyes. "Don't get holy with me, Miri. You took his money for years."

"Whether or not you agree with Miranda, Oriana has been with her family for years now," said Shepard.

"Her father can still give her a better life."

"You don't know what my father wants for her," Miranda glared.

"I know that I've been poor, Miri. I didn't much care for it."

Miranda shook her head. "He wants to take a girl away from the only family she's ever known. Doesn't that tell you what he really is?"

"If you're working for Miranda's father, that means he knows about Oriana," said Shepard. He then looked to Miranda. "We need to find a new solution."

"Miranda's father has no information about Oriana," said Niket. "I knew you had spy programs and your father's systems, Miri, so I kept it private. I'm the only one who knows."

"Which means that you're the only loose end," said Miranda raising her pistol. "This isn't how I wanted it to end, Niket. I'm going to miss you…"

Shepard then quickly pulled Miranda's hand out of the way. "Miranda, wait! You don't want to do this."

"This has to end, Shepard. My father will keep trying to find Oriana."

"Maybe Niket can help… talk to your father. Just say you got here first…"

Niket looked slightly uneasy. "I'll… I'll tell them that you hid her. That I don't know where she is."

Miranda glared at Niket. "I never want to see you again, Nik—"

They then heard the sound of the bullet and Niket fell to the ground. Behind him was Enyala, holding her smoking shotgun.

"Done," she said aiming the shotgun at them. "Now if you don't mind, I have a shipment to deliver."

Miranda's biotics then flared and she lifted her up into the air.

"You'll die for that bitch!" she roared.

Miranda then shot her right across the cargo area and seconds later more Eclipse mercs appeared and began shooting. However, Jacob quickly created a barrier and they began shooting. Shepard and Garrus made some clean head shots, but no one could deny that it was Miranda who killed the most with both biotics and gunfire.

When the last merc fell, Miranda looked to Shepard. "There could be more Eclipse mercs near the shuttle. I want to make sure Oriana and her family got on safely."

Shepard nodded and they made their way to the elevator. Before he entered the elevator he noticed a locket with a picture of an asari and a human man. He stated that someone had dropped it and decided to take it with to find the owner.

Once they were inside Miranda looked devastated, though considering what he had been through Shepard couldn't really blame her.

"I can't believe Niket sold me out," she said shaking her head. "I didn't even see it coming."

"Even with all your upgrades, you're human just like the rest of us," said Shepard.

"But I like to get personal… and I screwed up." She then turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Why didn't you let me kill? I could have handled that. But watching him get gunned down by that asari bitch…"

"You still care for him, even if he betrayed you."

Miranda nodded. "You're right. And my father knew it. He used that against me. It's always been like this. My father gave me anything I ever wanted, but there was always a hook, an angle for his long-term plan. I threw away anything he ever gave me when I ran." She shrugged. "Except Niket. Weakness on my part."

"You can't toss aside everything you care about just to be safe."

"It's okay, Shepard. My father hurt me, but he didn't break me. As much as he tried to turn me into exactly what he wanted… I'm my own person."

"Any other friends your father might use against you?"

Miranda shook her head. "No. I cut ties with everyone else. Anyone I'm close to either work for Cerberus… or you. My father's powerful, but he won't cross the Illusive Man."

"You still have Oriana," Shepard pointed out.

"My father didn't give her to me. I rescued her. But…" She nodded. "Yes. You're right. I still have something. Thank you."

They made their way to the shuttle bay and began searching for any Eclipse mercs.

"No sign of Eclipse," said Miranda. "It looks like we're clear."

Miranda stared at a young woman there was a younger variation of herself. "There she is… She's safe… with her family." Shepard looked at her as she stared off into the distance. "Come on. We should go."

Shepard then grabbed her arm before she could walk off. "Don't you even want to say hello?"

"It's not about what I want. It's about what's right for her. The less she knows about me, the better. She's got a family. A life. I'll just complicate that for her."

"She doesn't need any details, but would it really be so bad for her to know she has a sister who loves her?" Shepard asked with a raised eyebrow.

Miranda looked at him and nodded. "I guess not…"

Shepard smiled. "Go on… we'll wait here."

Miranda then made her way over towards Oriana and they watched as she approached her and her family. It was clear that they were quite shocked to when Miranda walked up to them, considering that she bared a strong resemblance to Oriana.

They watched as they sat down and began to talk, Oriana's parents just stared at Miranda, but Oriana just sat there and listened. Oriana then hugged Miranda and she soon re-joined.

When they reach the elevator they saw that Oriana was smiling at Miranda and watched until the doors closed.

Rick was on the ship having a talk hologram of Anderson, informing him what happened on Horizon.

"So you found no evidence of the Reapers," said Anderson.

Rick shook his head. "Nothing concrete. However, the Collectors were using husks similar to the ones that the geth use two years ago."

"It won't be enough," said Anderson grimly. "They would just say that they got the tech from the geth or vice versa."

"Maybe, but they can't deny that the Collectors are a threat. If they can kidnap an entire colony with out a fight, no one is safe."

"I'll see if I company pressure on the Council, but I'm not confident they will do anything apart from sitting around and wait."

"At least it will get their attention."

Anderson nodded. "Agreed. Keep up the good work Commander."