"We can't go galavanting around the galaxy investigating every dying star because the Illusive Man might be hiding near one of them. We could end up chasing a ghost for the next two decades. We need a better plan."

Commander Shepard-Krios stood on the platform leaning on the railing over looking the galaxy map. The indicators over each star EDI had identified so far numbers in the hundreds. Garrus stood by her side. He noticed each time she winced with pain when she turned wrong, or moved a sore muscle. She favored that side cautiously. He could smell the drell on her the way he always could if they'd copulated. It only made him more angry that she had not been left in peace to recover. That the alien couldn't control his own lust long enough for her to heal. Then again, it could have been Shepard's idea. The turian felt better if he could be angry at the drell.

"Well, what do you suggest, Commander. We don't have a lot to go on. I do believe that's why the Alliance gave him the name Illusive Man." He was being serious, but he couldn't help himself.

Shepard shot him a look. Then her face relaxed and she sighed.

"I know." She relented. "But I refuse to run from him. Even if he thinks I died, he'll come after the ship. He'll want the Normandy back, and my body. After all, he paid for them. I'm an investment, a toy that was broken. A malfunctioning wet ware/hard ware interface system. He'll fix me, put a control chip in my brain..."

"You don't really believe that's all you are, Shepard." Garrus stated.

He wasn't asking her, he was telling her she didn't believe it. He needed her to not believe it. The galaxy would go to hell if she gave up.

"We'll go back to the Citadel. Get reinforcements, build our own army if we have to. You're a Spectre, Shepard. You have all the recourses given to your ranks by the Council, which is pretty much everything the Citadel has in it's armory. There are plenty of planets, moons, asteroids...We can find material resources." He was adamant, excited even.

His talons curled into fists. All she needed to say was 'go' and he'd go, mission in claw, ready to save the galaxy.

"What about the Shadow Broker." She said, staring down at the map.

Garrus just about dropped his jaw to the floor.

"You can't be serious."

"If we team up with Liara... she's been hot on his trail for a while now. Maybe she's found something. If we can get to him personally... He's got to know. He's the Shadow Broker. He know's everything, right? Like the wizard of Oz or God."

"What?"

Garrus looked at her like she was loosing her mind. Maybe she was.

"Never mind... Look, Liara wants the Shadow Broker dead. There are a lot of people that want that. The Alliance wants the Illusive Man. The Illusive Man wants me and the Normandy back in his toy box. If we can get to the Shadow Broker, find out everything he knows before Liara kills him, then take that information to the Alliance. They'd have to give us something. A small fleet, or another ship at the least. Maybe a fellow Spectre."

"You're serious."

Shepard turned her gaze up to his. She didn't have to answer. He could see her resolve in her steel colored eyes, as cool as her hair was fire. He yearned to take her in his arms and erase the sent of the drell and replace it with his own.

"Ok. I'm with you."