Shepard wondered see how Thane was doing and him found he was just sitting at his table looking at the drive for his window.

"Do you need something?" Thane asked without even looking.

"Have a few minutes to talk?" Shepard asked.

"Certainly," he nodded. "We haven't had a chance since I joined."

Shepard folded his arms. "When we met you, you said you were dying."

"Yes. I thought you'd want to know more. You don't have to worry about the rest of the crew. My illness is not communicable, even to other drell. It's called Kepral's Syndrome."

"Are you going to be all right until the end of the mission?" Shepard asked.

"I should be fine for another eight to twelve months. The more time I spend in humid environments, the faster it progresses. I think it's safe to say that by the time my body is incapacitated, we'll be victorious, or dead. Either way, I will be a burden to you."

"What exactly is the problem?" Shepard asked looking slightly concerned.

"My people are native to an arid world. Most of us live on Kahje, the hanar homeworld. It's very humid, and rains every day. Our lungs can't deal with the moisture. Over time, the tissue loss its ability to absorb oxygen. It becomes harder to breathe. Eventually, we suffocate."

Shepard was surprised that the hanar did nothing. "Can't they do something about that?"

"The hanar have funded a genetic engineering program. They should be able to adapt us. The project has only been running for a few years. I don't believe my body will still draw breath by the time it bears fruit."

"Then don't live on Kahje. Or use breathes."

Thane shook his head. "Drell have a close relationship with the hanar. We rely on one each other. The best we can do is keep our homes very dry inside."

"Is there anything we can do here?" Shepard asked. "Normally have a state-of-an-art medical bay."

"No, thank you. It's been attended to. If the finest medical minds in the hanar Illuminated Primacy can't solve the problem, I doubt your ship's medic could."

Shepard went to check on Miranda, to see how she was coping with the situation sister.

She looked up from her desk when he entered. "Thanks again, Shepard. Taking the time to help me with my sister…" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I couldn't have reached Oriana in time without your help."

She then got to her feet and made her way over towards the chair that overlooks the mirror staring out to space.

"I'm glad Niket try to redeem himself… for what good it did. Thank you again for stopping me, Commander."

"Sounds like you had a soft side for Niket after all," Shepard noted.

"I didn't have many friends. Niket was one of them. He never wanted anything from me. He was… safe. Comfortable." She looked at the start of shining through the window. "A reminder of a more innocent time, I suppose."

"Are you happy about your sister's relocation?" Shepard asked.

"She has what I wanted her to have—a normal life, and the freedom to choose her own path." She then smiled. "And she knows she has an older sister. A friend."

"Are you going to talk to her again?" Shepard asked.

"I honestly don't know." Miranda repositioned herself on her chair. "For once, I haven't planned that far ahead. I'll deal with it after our mission. I have to stay focused, and she needs time to adjust to her new home."

"You never told me what you talked about."

Miranda merely smiled. "I introduced myself. Her family was shocked. She adjusted quickly, of course. She's a smart as I am. She plays the violin. Loves the adagio movement of Nielsen's Fifth, just like I do. She wants to work in colony development. Told a joke about it. She's really funny. Something we don't share."

Shepard smiled. "Let me know if I can do anything else."

Miranda got her feet. "I think I've got it from here. My father has no chance at finding her family in the new location. But thank you, Commander. My sister is safe again, thanks in no large part to you. I won't forget that."

Shepard made his way back to Nos Astra and helped a couple out with the relationship. The relationship was an asari, who was a little uneasy to make the relationship permanent, and a krogan, who looked to make love poems. The asari gave them a discount for her terminal as gratitude for helping them out.

"Shepard." Shepard blinked, and turned in the direction of the voice. An asari was walking toward him. A green one. "Shepard. I…" She hesitated a moment. "I don't suppose you remember me. I'm Shiala. We met on Feros during the geth attack. Saren had given me to the Thorian creature as a slave, and you killed it…" She gave him a shy smile. "And saved me."

Shepard nodded. "Yes, I do remember."

Her smile broadened for a moment. "I promised to help Zhu's Hope recover. I'm actually here on Illium for just that purpose." She filled him in a little on the colony before getting to her point. "Some of the colonists had health problems as a result of the Thorian control. We hired a colonial survey group to do some medical scans." She glanced over her shoulder at one of the kiosk attendants. "But the medical contract apparently allows the company to perform invasive procedures without our consent. That's why I'm here."

Shepard frowned. "Wait a minute, Shiala—you were only clean when the Thorian made you a clone. The real you was blue, like normal asari."

She shrugged. "Those health problems I said were related to the Thorian control? This is mine. A few months after the Thorian died, my skin pigment changed. My biotic abilities are unstable as well. I'm also having vivid dreams…" She sighed. "About my time with the Thorian. It is…" She shook her head. "Disconcerting."

"And these scans?" He raised an eyebrow. Shiala filled him in quickly. Baria Frontiers had cut them a break that had turned out to be too good to be true. He nodded to her. "I'll see what I can do."

"I saw your conversation, human." The Baria Frontiers rep glared at him as he approached. "You're here to complain about the medical contracts those colonists from Feros signed." She sneered. "I suggest you leave. Your life is short enough. Do not waste what time you have bothering me."

Shepard could understand why Shiala was having problems. "Why are you insisting on these tests? What use could they possibly be?" He folded his arms.

"Their use is none of your concern. A legal, binding contract was signed. Nothing else matters." Her glare went past him to where his companions were waiting. "All of you, humans, salarians, turians… You come to our planet, then complain about our laws don't suit you. The galaxy would be a better place if nobody but the asari had ever dragged themselves out of the primordial muck."

"You seem to forget that a human saved you from Saren and the geth," Shepard pointed out.

She glared at him. "The geth created by the idiotic quarians? That a rouge turian Spectre lead in an attack? The geth didn't start with the Citadel. The attack your human colony, Eden Prime, first. You humans brought the geth upon us. You, and the turians, and the quarians. My people's death are on your hands!"

"Why are you so prejudiced against aliens?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Where do I begin? With salarian researchers unleashing the rachni upon us, then unleashing the krogan to correct their mistake? Or the turians, so eager to bomb every problem away? Or humans, the new arrivals who already think they should be in charge? Every war that has plagued this galaxy has been caused by your people." She pointed at him. "My people's deaths are on your hands."

Now that was sounding a bit personal. "So you'd be this harsh if your contract terms if they were asari colonists?"

"If they were asari, they'd be dealing with problems unleashed by another race! Asari like my bondmate, who died when the geth rebelled against the quarians!" She turned away from. "Or my daughters who died on the Citadel when the geth attacked. One worked in the Embassy as a receptionist. The other was a greeter for the Consort. I am not speaking in hypotheticals, human. The aliens will never be my allies. The best they can do is give me useful medical data."

Shepard could understand how she felt, he asked or lost his family to aliens. However, it didn't seem fair to blame everyone on the actions of so few. "Why was your bondmate on the quarian homeworld?"

"Studying the quarians. Not the technology, but their music. She loved all their art. Said they had old souls. I think that when my daughters got it from. Both of them loves talking with people, exploring new cultures."

"They sound like wonderful people. The galaxy is lesser for their loss."

She nodded. "Yes, it is."

"Do you think they'd want you to do this?"

"I'm not… I didn't… Oh…" The asari took a deep breath, and collapsed backward to lean on the railing behind her. He offered her a hand, pulling her back to her feet. "I'm…" She met his eyes. "Sending an amended contract. No more tests. No fees. There's enough grief in this galaxy. I don't need to add to it."

Shepard nodded to her. He started to walk away, and then sighed. He turned back toward her. "I lost my family too. I was on Mindor when batarians slaves attacked, I watched as they killed my mother without mercy. I also saw good men and women die during the Skyllian Blitz."

She nodded. "Then I'm sorry for your loss."

"Everything all right, Shepard?" Garrus clicked his mandibles.

"Yeah." Shepard shook his head. "Let's go find Shiala."

Shepard managed to locate the justicar with a little help with a security officer. Unfortunately, he found himself in a crime scene that involved the death of a volus merchant and his partner wanted to leave immediately, but the detective stopped him from leaving much to his annoyance.

Shepard decided that the detective might be able to point me in the right direction.

"Nice guns." The detective barely looked up from her desk. "Try not to use them in my district. What can I do for you?"

Shepard sat in a chair opposite her desk. "I'm looking for an asari warrior named Samara."

"If you've got a score to settle with Samara, take it somewhere else." She moved a datapad onto a stack. "I've got more than enough trouble here already."

"I need to recruit Samara for my mission, then we'll be on our way," Shepard assured.

"Justicars usually work alone, but they are drawn to impossible causes." Detective Anaya gave him an appraising look.

"We've got that covered," said Garrus.

"If you're getting her out of my district, I'll get you to her ASAP. She's at the crime scene." She jerked her head at the fuss over by one of the bay doors.

"You're awfully anxious to get Samara out of your district."

Detective Anaya sighed. "My bosses want me to detain her. They're worried she'll cause some kind of cross-species incident. But her Justicar Code won't let her be taken into custody. If I try it, she'll have to kill me." She shrugged. "I have no interest in dying, so if you lure her away with some big noble cause before I have to carry out my orders, I'm thrilled to help you."

Shepard blinked. "Your superiors are sending you to certain death for no good reason. You have a right to disobey."

"We can disobey suicidal orders?" Garrus clicked his mandibles. He turned toward Kasumi. "Why wasn't I told?"

"That's about twice a day." Kasumi nodded.

"Most of the time, I'm not being stupid about it." Shepard glared at them over his shoulder. "I can't say the same for Anaya's superiors."

"I'm a cop, and I know my duty. I've been ordered to detain her and I will." Anaya met his eyes. "Unless I can get her to leave my district first."

"How do I get the crime scene?"

"It around the corner—go outside, take a left. Look for the police line. I'll send word to let you in. Be careful—the local Eclipse mercs happen all over those back alleys lately."

Shepard managed to get a bit more information about the crime scene and found out that the detective believed that the Eclipse mercs had something to do with it, but had no proof.

"I have to go."

"Good luck."

Shepard then looked at the others.

"We'd better find Samara before the detective goes after her."

Shepard nodded.

They had fought their way through a small group of mercenaries when someone threw yet another mercenary in their direction. The mercenary missed Garrus, and hit the wall to land in a crumpled heap. "Those were my best troops." Shepard looked up to see yet another mercenary pointing a gun at someone.

A woman, dressed in red and glowing blue, walked toward her, completely unconcerned. "Tell me what I need to know, and I will be gone from here. Where did you send her?"

"You think I'd betray her? She would hurt me in ways you can't imagine."

"The name of the ship." The red armoured woman paced back and forth. "Your life hangs on the answer, Lieutenant."

"You can kill me, but one of us will take you down, Justicar." The mercenary raised her gun.

That proved to be a fatal mistake. The blue biotic energy around the justicar lashed out at a gesture, throwing the mercenary through the window to the ground below. The justicar leaped down after her, using her biotics to slow her fall. She landed a couple paces away, then walked toward the mercenary that was struggling to rise. One of the justicar's red high-heeled boots came down on the mercenary's throat. "What was the name of the ship she left on?"

"Go to hell."

"Find peace in the embrace of the goddess." The justicar twisted her leg, snapping the mercenary's neck. Then she looked up, and her eyes fell on them.

She then noticed Shepard and the others approaching her. Shepard now understood why the detective was quite fearful of her and understand why she wanted her out of her district. She turned to face them. "My name is Samara, a servant of the Justicar Code. My quarrel is with these Eclipse sisters, but I see well-armed people before me." She stepped away from the corpse and moved to a position that would give her a slightly greater advantage if they pull weapons on her. "Are we friend? Or foe?"

"I'm Commander Shepard, and I need your help with a critical mission, Samara."

"You honour me. But I am in the middle of an investigation."

"I'm going up against suicidal odds, and I need the best—that's you."

"I sense the truth in what you say, and it humbles me." She gave him an appraising look. "But I seek an immensely dangerous fugitive." She met his eyes, then started pacing. Not a nervous pacing. More like a cat waiting for its prey to appear. "I cornered her here, but the Eclipse sisters smuggled her off-world. I must find the name of the ship she left on before the trail goes cold."

Detective Anaya's voice came from behind them. "I wish you were willing to go with the human, Justicar. I've been ordered to take you into custody if you won't leave."

Samara actually gave the detective a respectful nod. "You risk a great deal by following your orders, Detective. Fortunately, I will not have to resist. My code obligates me to cooperate with you for one day. After that, I must return to my investigation."

"I won't be able to release you that soon."

"You won't be able to stop me."

Shepard could see the problem, even despite not knowing the Justicar Code. "I'll get the name of that ship." They both turned to look at Shepard.

"Do that, and I will join you." Samara nodded. "Then the Code will be satisfied."

"Do you have any leads?"

"The volus merchant, Pitne For, is tied to this. Eclipse mercs are preparing to kill him." Samara started following Anaya. "Get the truth out of him. He may know a way into the Eclipse base."

"Do you anything we can accomplish this in one day?" Garrus asked.

"Only if we swayed, Pitne For to cooperate," said Shepard.

"He was eager to leave," said Tali.

"Maybe I can persuade," Grunt smiled.

"Let's use that as a backup," said Shepard. "I have a feeling that we will be with persuade him regardless."

Shepard met up with the volus merchant managed to convince him that helping him would be the best way for him to leave and to get Eclipse off his back. Pitne For then began to confess that he smuggled a chemical that boosts biotic power in combat. However, it was toxic.

Shepard now understood why the Eclipse mercs were now after him. Shepard asked about more about the chemical and unsurprisingly it was very illegal even on Illium. He then asked more about the Eclipse base of operations and he told him that it was a series of docking bays where they could park their private ships. There were also well armed and had a lot of mechs.

Pitne For and gave Shepard his pass card that allowed them to access an elevator that would get him to the merc base.

"So, the volus sells Eclipse this dangerous chemical without telling them that it could kill them and now they're trying to kill him," said Jack rolling her eyes. "Not the best smuggler I've seen."

"He's probably hoping to get away before Eclipse found out," said Zaeed.

"Either way we need to find the ship that Samara is looking for before she kills everyone," Shepard.

They soon exit the elevator and stormed the base and were soon attacked by Eclipse mercs and mechs. Shepard accidentally shot a canister and it unleashed the brownish chemical.

"Shepard, my scans confirm that the chemical compound will boost biotics," said EDI over the comm. "However, concentrated exposure will cause severe tissue damage. I recommend limited exposure."

Shepard nodded. "Thanks, EDI." He then looked to the others. "What your fire, we don't want more this chemical spreading around."

"You're the one that shorted," Garrus pointed out.

"How about we don't point fingers," said Shepard.

They made their way deeper into the base and walked past the door and heard a voice behind it. "Oh, Goddess, don't let them see me. If they do see me, don't let them kill me. What am I doing here?"

Shepard then opened the door to investigate with Garrus and Kasumi and tow. Then he drew his sidearm.

"Wait! Stop!" The mercenary held up her hand. "I didn't fire my weapon once. I pretended to because the other Eclipse sisters were watching, but I didn't really shoot!"

Shepard just stared at her for a moment. He lowered his sidearm, but kept watching her. "I'm not one of them! I'm new! I thought being Elnora the mercenary would be cool…" She shook her head. "But I didn't know what they were really like."

Shepard however wasn't falling for the act, he knew that each member of Eclipse killed in order to join. Which meant that she was a murderer. Shepard sighed. And her fingers were creeping toward her weapon. He lifted his own sidearm again. "You chose your side, Elnora. And you lost."

"Screw that, bastard!" She went for the gun. "And screw you!"

The three of them shot her before she got the chance to fire. "Let's move on!"

As they moved in deeper Shepard found a shipping manifest and examined it.

"This looks like a shipping manifest," he said looking to the others. "It shows that Pitne For sold 2000 units of Minagen X3 to the Eclipse. Along with 600 units of red sand."

"Samara wasn't looking for this information, but at least it proves the volus is a criminal," said Kasumi.

Garrus nodded. "I'm sure Detective Anaya would be interested in this."

"Agreed, but right now we need to save her life before Samara goes on a killing spree," said Shepard.

They then discovered that Elnora had in fact killed the volus merchant, which she can perform according. Shepard was now glad that he actually killed her and decided like a copy of this statement to Detective Anaya assuming that they could find what Samara was looking for.

A volus turned from a snack kiosk and walked toward them. He bounced off Shepard, then stumbled backwards. Then he looked up. "I am a biotic god! I think things—and they happen! Fear me, lesser creatures, for I am biotics made flesh!" The volus started to glow. A little.

"You need help," said Shepard.

"You need help! You stand before the mightiest biotic ever." He paced. "Yes, the asari injecting so many drugs into me was terrifying. But then I began to smell my greatness! They may laugh when I fall over, but they don't know what I know in my head. That I know that I am amazingly powerful. Fear me!"

The volus gestured at Garrus, who just shrugged.

"Are you part of Pitne For's trade group?" Shepard asked.

"When I was mortal, I worked for Pitne. Poor soul is probably terrified that I have not returned."

"He hasn't reported your disappearance," said Garrus. "For me so his departure won't get delayed."

"Face it—Pitne will pick money over friends every time," said Kasumi.

The volus was not too happy. "Bah! I will wreak a just revenge upon his people! But first… the leader of these mercenaries is in the next room. I shall toss Wasea about like a rag doll!"

"Shepard." Garrus was clearly trying not to laugh. "This guy couldn't tie his bootlaces, much less fight."

"I will tear her apart! My biotics are unstoppable!"

"Wasea will tear you apart. Take a nap—you'll feel better."

"Are you mad? I'm unstoppable! Feasting on her biotic-rich blood will be the last step of my ascension to godhood!" When the volus turned, Shepard adjusted his trajectory just slightly. The volus hit the wall, bounced off, then shook itself. "But…" He shook its head again. "Great wind! Biotic god! I'm…" He turned back toward Shepard. "What was I saying? I'm…" He started stumbling back in the direction they'd come from. "I'm tired." He then looked up at Shepard. "You… maybe right." He then walked drunkenly away. "Yes. I'm tired… I'll nap. Destroy the universe later…"

Garrus shook his head. "So much for godhood."

It pitched forward, and lay in a boneless heap.

They entered into the main storage room and found Wasea inside. She placed her drink down and looked at them.

"Everything's gone to hell since we smother that filthy creature off-world," she said. "First they justicar shows up, now you." She then placed her datapad onto her desk. "At least I can take the pleasure in turning your head into a pulpy mass."

Wasea then began tossing around containers full of Minagen X3 around. All of them ran for cover just before try not to get too exposed by the chemical. Grunt actually picked up a mercenary and used her to hit another mercenary. Thane had promptly vanished into thin air and then reappeared behind the mercenaries, snap the head off one and then fired his pistol another.

Wasea was exposed to quite a lot of Minagen X3 which rendered her biotics were unbelievably powerful. Of course, with that much exposure she was taking damage and Shepard use that with advantage to fire several slugs into her.

Once she was dead Shepard picked up the datapad he placed on the desk. "Got the ship name."

"And we still have twenty hours," said Kasumi.

"I doubt will find anything else of value here," said Thane.

"And let's not waste time and get this information back to Samara," said Shepard.

Samara was sitting cross-legged atop the short wall behind Anaya's desk, apparently meditating. "I've got the name of the ship. Your fugitive left here two days ago on the AML Demeter."

"Shepard, you impress me." Samara nodded to him. "You fulfilled your part of the bargain, and I will fulfill mine." She jumped down, then turned to look at Anaya. "I am ready to leave immediately, if that will satisfy your superiors, Detective?"

"You're free to go, Justicar. It has been an honour having you in my station. And it's nice you didn't kill me, too."

Shepard was a little concerned. "You're sworn to follow a code that dictates your decisions. But I'm running a military operation."

She nodded. "You wonder if I will refuse to follow orders because of my code?"

"I can't allow that to happen."

"By agreeing to follow you, I am compelled to swear the most difficult of justicar oaths—the Third Oath of Subsumation. After I do, your orders will override the Code. You should know, however, that I'll still give you my opinion if the situation warrants."

Shepard nodded. "I'm fine with my crew having their own opinions. The Normandy is docked near the main trading floor. I'll see you aboard."

"I must be sworn to your service, so that I am never forced to choose between your orders and the Code." Samara's eyes suddenly glowed, and then, to his shock, she dropped to her knees, all but pressing her forehead against the floor. Blue energy glowed around her. "By the Code, I will serve you, Shepard. Your choices are my choices, your morals are my morals. Your wishes are my code." She rose once more.

"I never thought I'd see a justicar swear an oath like that." Anaya's eyes were practically falling out of her head.

Samara met his eyes. "If you make me do anything extremely dishonorable, I may need to kill you when I am released from my oath."

"I can see this is a very important act, Samara. Thank you."

"Truly, the life of a justicar can get lonely. I admit, I am looking forward to serve with a company of honourable heroes. Shall we return to your ship?"

"I need to speak to the detective," said Shepard.

Samara nodded and Shepard made his way over to Anaya, who was looking very relieved.

"Thanks for getting Samara out of my district," she said gratefully. "I can tell my granddaughters about meeting a justicar. And you've just upped my chances for living long enough to have grandkids."

Shepard then pulled out the recording of Elnora's confession. "I have proved that Eclipsed killed the volus merchant."

"Let's see what you've got there," said Anaya she listened to the recording. "Interesting, but I can't verify it. It would be inadmissible."

"I vouch for Shepard and any evidence he brings," said Samara.

Anaya shrugged. "I took the judgement of the justicar."

Shepard nodded to Samara in thanks.

"Thanks, Shepard," said Anaya. "I wasn't sure trusting a strange—and a human, at that. But you came through. Never heard of this Elnora. Sounds like she was just starting her career. Good thing you cut it short." She then looked at them all. "Okay, enough with all the congratulations, I've still got a spiralling crime rate."

"I can help you with that," said Shepard as he pulled out the shipping manifest. "I have proof that Pitne For snarled in red sand and illegal weapons tech."

"I'll send in some officers to arrest him and his cohorts. This is a big help, Shepard." She then pulled out a cash of credits. "I can't do much to thank you, but we do have a small discretionary bounty fund. Take this."

"Yeah, sure. Just need to drop some stuff off for Anaya here." Michael gestured at Garrus, who handed her the datapads they'd found.

Before returning to the Normandy Shepard healthy quarian, who had the place herself in servitude to pay off her debts. Unfortunately, the company that the contract had been signed to didn't like the idea of having an indentured servant working for them.

Shepard could understand their concerns and improve he wasn't too happy about indentured servants either. However, there was no denying that the young quarian needed help and he was able to convince the representative to take her in saying that hiring and freeing the quarian a good PR move.

He then gave the data he had found at Nassana's construction building to a salarian, who was desperately looking for it. Apparently it was some sort of pedigree for salarian so they could mate.

Shepard then went to check on Liara after retrieving some data that she was looking for, but he still had no clue why she would want it.

"Thank you for getting that system data," Liara smiled. She then looked at him seriously. "Do you remember the Shadow Broker? With the data you got me, I may be able to find information caches from his agents."

Shepard frowned. "Are you on the run from the Shadow Broker? I can help you."

"Actually, it would be more accurate to say that the Shadow Broker is on the run from me. We crossed pass not long after you died." She then slammed her fist on her desk. "Since then, I've been working to taken down. With this data, I'm must step closer."

"I've never seen you ready to execute someone in cold blood," Shepard frowned. "What do the Shadow Broker do to you?"

"I was a job with a friend," said Liara getting to her feet. "The Shadow Broker's people caught us. My friend didn't escape. I don't know if he's dead or being interrogated, but I need to find him. I owe my life. And I need to make the Shadow Broker pay for what he did."

"Let me know if there's anything else I can do."

"Actually there is something you can help me with," said Liara. "The data that you gave me has revealed something quite interesting. The Shadow Broker has several contacts here on Illium. The most powerful is someone called the Observer. Taking down the Observer will put me closer to the Shadow Broker. I could use your help."

"Tell me what I can do to help."

"Your data pointed me at logs kept by the Shadow Broker agents. The logs were deleted, but it may be possible to reconstruct some of it. Shadow Broker is cautious. His agents are referred to only their title and race."

"My inquiries have narrowed the Observer down to one of five operatives: a turian, a salarian, a krogan, a batarian and a vorcha," said Nyxeris.

"If you can refine the list, I'll know where to strike," said Liara.

"I'll reconstruct the data and see what I can find," Shepard assured.

Liara smiled. "Thank you, Shepard. When you find something, call me on the radio channel we used in the old days. I can't risk handling this in person."

Shepard nodded and began access all the data terminals you could find. However, there was something unusual about what he discovered. The Observer was mentioned to be female, but all the operatives were male.

He relayed this information to Liara, who soon realised that the Observer was none other than Nyxeris. Shepard made his way quickly back towards her office and discovered that her assistant's desk was vacant.

He went in to check to see Liara, but it wasn't even a scratch on her. "Nyxeris had some interesting data hidden away. Thank you, Shepard. I wouldn't have caught without you. I'm one step closer to the Shadow Broker, thanks to you. Here." She then handed him a cache of credits. "Nyxeris was very well-compensated. You need it more than I do."

"What the next step in your hunt?" Shepard asked.

"Now I gather information, peel the layers of lies, and shine light into the shadows. And when I find a Shadow Broker, I hit him with a biotic field so strong that what's left of his body will fit into a coffee cup."

Shepard got a feeling that there was something more to it. "That anger can't be just what you've told me. What else happened between you and the Shadow Broker?"

Liara stood up and looked out of the window with her back facing Shepard. "Did Cerberus ever tell you how they recovered your body?"

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Shepard shaking his head.

"I gave it to them. I gave them to you, Shepard. Because they said they could rebuild you. And to do that, I have to take it from the Shadow Broker, who was going to sell your corpse to the Collectors."

Shepard just stared at her as she sat back down. "Why didn't you tell me about this before now?"

"Because I screwed it up, Shepard. I barely escaped with my own life. And when I gave you to Cerberus, I told myself I was doing it for you, for a chance to bring you back." She then shook her head. "But I knew Cerberus would use you for their own business. And I let it happen. Because I could let you go. I'm sorry."

It took several seconds for Shepard to process this information. "You did the right thing, Liara," he said and she looked up. "My mission is important. I couldn't do it if you hadn't given me to Cerberus."

"Thank you," said Liara, with tears in her eyes. "I… I was afraid you'd hate me. So that's why I must destroy the Shadow Broker. For what he did to my friend, and to you, and whatever he's doing with the Collectors."

"Let me know if you need any more help," said Shepard smiled.

"Thank you, I will."

She then was cephalexin her office and then actress her computer. She waved at about a minute until the image of Ashley appeared.

"Liara?" Ashley stared. "It's good to see you."

"It's good see you too," Liara smiled. "I've heard that you've encountered the Collectors on Horizon."

Ashley frowned. "Is that all you heard?"

"I know Shepard's alive, Ash," said Liara honestly. "And I also know that Garrus and Tali are with him."

Ashley stared. "Tali, too? Is the entire galaxy going mad?"

"Maybe, but sometimes I wonder if it was ever sane," said Liara.

Ashley looked at her curiously. "You've seen, haven't you?"

Liara decided it was best to be honest. "Yes, just moments ago."

"I can't believe he joined a terrorist organisation?" said Ashley shaking her head. "I mean he knows what they did at his side and with them."

"I don't think he's actually joined Cerberus," said Liara. "I think you'll be more accurate in saying that he's using them."

"Yeah, he said the same and I don't know what to think."