Omega - One week before the destruction of the Normandy

Aria T'Loak. Pirate Queen of the lawless Terminus Systems. Aria ruled with an iron fist; with a reputation for ruthless ambition, she was an Asari to be respected and feared for both her personal strengths and the extreme loyalty of her men. Nothing happened on Omega that Aria either didn't at least know about or if not directly cause, and a mercenary band of the Blue Suns had conducted business that Aria hadn't sanctioned. Initial reports indicated it was a slave sale that involved a significant amount of credits...and Aria didn't get her cut, so she and two Batarian bodyguards made their way down to the site of the sale to correct the deficiency. Her primary agent, Bray, commented the men were able to handle the job, but Aria had insisted on attending to the matter personally. She gave Bray a glare and growled at him, "This is my station and I know when something's not right. Too many credits moving... this is bigger than you realize."

As the trio approached the site, Aria's eyes narrowed in anger when she realized it wasn't just Blue Suns selling slaves; they were selling Humans to the Collectors. The Collectors were all around bad for business, well known for taking odd samplings of various races, their purposes never revealed, and the fate of those taken a total mystery. They resided somewhere beyond the Omega-4 Relay, and were bad enough that their mere presence made even the unsavory characters who frequented Omega nervous. All attempts to discover more about the Collectors by traveling through the relay had ended in failure; Aria didn't like what she couldn't control, and the Collectors certainly fell in that category. They had to learn that Omega was not someplace they were allowed to do business, especially when they tried to bypass her 'taxes.'

Looking back at her bodyguards, she pulled up her biotics as she snarled, "Nobody leaves alive!" Aria promptly jumped into the fight, capitalizing on her commando training and her extremely strong biotic capabilities. Using one hand to launch a warp at the negotiating Collector at the front of the pack and pulling out her heavy pistol with the other, she launched the attack with the two Batarians immediately pulling weapons and joining her in combat. The Blue Suns and Collectors were caught completely off guard and the skirmish didn't last long, with Aria soon standing triumphant over a couple of still living Blue Suns. "Bray!" Pulling her agent to the side, she whispered quietly to him, "Find out everything they know...then kill them. Report to me as soon as it's done."

With a quick nod, Bray collected the prisoners and they vanished quietly into the bowels of the Omega mines. Less than twenty four hours later, Bray handed Aria a data pad with Human population totals for a number of colonies, as well as for the Citadel, Earth and Omega proper. Aria's brow creased in angry contemplation; she realized the Collectors were certainly after more than just a few slaves, and humanity had somehow made a very dangerous enemy. Any war in the Terminus would be bad for business, especially if it directly involved Omega, but throw the Collectors into the mix and it would be very bad. The whole concept was unacceptable, but Aria had no idea what to do about it...yet.

Armada System, Omega Nebula - Day of destruction

The team of Salarian Special Tactics Group operatives watched the Blue Suns cruiser put itself into orbit around Alchera; the STG team had been tracking this particular mercenary band for roughly four days and had yet to determine their mission. The cruiser had been planet hopping to some unknown end, always in the Omega Nebula but not staying near any particular planet for long. The Salarians' best guess at this point was they were conducting illegal mining surveys for Aria T'Loak on Omega, but that didn't fit the Pirate Queen's profile. Aria was ruthless; she would wait for some young company to set up operations and then take it from them...she did not waste credits or time on doing the surveys and setting up operations herself. She let someone else spend their credits to do it and then steal it out from under them, either through some back room deal or by force. She wasn't particular to either method, as long as it got her what she wanted in the end.

The STG crew sprang into action when the proximity alarms in their stealth surveillance ship started flashing. The young team chief, Lieutenant Eshelo Vasin, was amazed as the sleek form of the SSV Normandy crossed their bow. He immediately started speaking in the terse phrasing so typical o f Salarians. "Ahh, of course. Alliance investigating missing vessels from this area. Surprised they would squander Normandy on such a mission that is most likely just pirates. Complete waste of Commander Shepard's skills. Still, too close for comfort for two stealth ships to almost collide. Both stealth systems working optimally, would not have known of presence if not so close as to see them directly out the front viewport." Vasin watched the Normandy set into a search pattern and was content to monitor developments when their long range scanners picked up an unidentified cruiser headed their direction. The lieutenant was puzzled as to why such a remote, unforgiving piece of space now inexplicably had four separate ships apparently orbiting the same planet. "Something not right. Do not believe in coincidence. VI, start secure recording of all sensor data; duration undetermined."

Vasin was horrified as the mysterious cruiser suddenly changed trajectory and attacked the Normandy without provocation. As the scene played out in front of them, the captain noted the ejection of the distress beacon and starting giving commands. "Excellent. Beacon deployed, Alliance will send aid. No action required. No need to reveal position. Navigator Jarells, set course for relay. VI, note stealth systems ineffective against new unknown threat. Terminate monitoring upon relay activation and prepare to transmit all data via secure communications net to Captain Kirrahe at earliest availability." Needs to see this!

Armali - Five weeks after the destruction of the Normandy

It had been four weeks since Liara's return to Thessia and three weeks of commando teams searching and making discrete inquiries about operations and ongoing trades happening in the Omega Nebula. Three weeks of asking questions that attracted attention from the wrong kinds of people; unless you were looking for those wrong kinds of people, and Liara was doing exactly that. It was with some urgency that Liara breezed into the study to find Garrus sitting in front of a large window, discussing sniping strategy with one of the commandos. "No, no, no! There are much better strategies for minimizing windage errors over longer distances..." Garrus paused and looked up as Liara entered the room. "Oh, hey Liara. What's up?"

Liara had a very determined expression on her face as she spoke, "We need a small team to go to Omega. I've contacted an information trader with a lead on some Blue Suns that just happened to visit Alchera the very day the Normandy went down. I'm going with you, to meet with the information trader, and we need to leave as soon as possible. It's our first real lead. If they have information on Shepard, I don't want them slipping our net."

Garrus looked at her and spoke after a moment of contemplation. "How reliable is the data?"

Liara's eyes sparked with confidence, "Absolutely irrefutable. It came from an STG team via Capt Kirrahe."

Garrus stood up and started moving. "Kirrahe? Well then. I'll get right on it. Get yourself packed, T'Soni. I've had the team working rapid response drills. We can leave within the hour."

During transit, they came up with a plan; Liara and Riana would go in together, while Garrus and one of the huntresses trained in infiltration, Sellis Boni, would follow in trail to provide back-up. Omega was a dangerous place, a notable 'den of iniquity,' and they needed to make sure they had their eyes and ears open and all the angles covered. They planned a routine mission, but were sure to leave room for contingencies; everyone involved knew that nothing on Omega was ever routine.

Omega - Five weeks after the destruction of the Normandy

Liara T'Soni stepped off her ship onto Omega, just another Asari maiden looking for fun and adventure in the semi-lawless land of Omega. She and Riana slowly meandered to Afterlife, where there was an incredibly long line to get in. Riana had been here before, so Liara followed the instructions the commando had laid out during the journey. She skipped the line, and sauntered right to the front, looking derisively at the bouncer when he did not allow her to enter. Using her best voice of privilege she asked, "Certainly the head of house T'Soni is not going to wait in that line. Not if you expect my patronage."

After a quick call inside, the bouncer let her through, stating, "Aria says she wants to see you dance. Best not keep her waiting."

Liara waved her hand dismissively and laughed, "I'm not here to make credits dancing... I'm here to spend them." Despite her brash statement, Liara and Riana still went by the Queen's nest; it was not in one's best interest to ignore a summoning by the Queen of Omega. Aria's booth was above the dance floor, centered against the back wall with a commanding view of almost the entire main floor of Afterlife. Liara approached Aria with the respect due a Matriarch, but fire in her eyes as she spoke. "Greetings, Aria. I understand you wished to speak with me before I partake in the...pleasantries...your establishment offers?"

Aria eyed the pair, showing little emotion. "Liara T'Soni. Spending your mother's credits? And here I thought you were the studious professor, preferring to root around in the dirt, not in a sex den like Afterlife."

Liara laughed lightly. "Oh, I am spending my credits, if you haven't heard. My mother sided with that traitorous Turian and paid for it with her life. I am now House T'Soni. And yes, I am funding digs with those credits, but even the best of us like to enjoy some recreation once in a while...some semblance of civilization."

Aria fixed Liara with an icy glare. "Don't give me that shit, T'Soni. You're not the type. Besides. I have many eyes and ears. I control most of the Terminus System, and I own Omega. Nothing goes on without me knowing about it. You being here has something to do with the shit that went down at Alchera. My guess is you're hunting. I don't care what you do; just don't fuck with any of my businesses. You do that, I'll end you. Plain and simple. Understood?"

Liara cocked her head a bit to the side and put on her best smirk. "Why, Aria. I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about, but I have no intention of interfering with your business. In fact, I intend to do quite the opposite. I intend to spend lots of credits here, enjoying certain... services." Liara tossed a sizeable credit chit at Aria. "This should be sufficient to purchase at least some level of privacy for my 'vacation' here. It's been a pleasure, Aria."

The Pirate Queen watched with keen interest as Liara turned and headed to the bar on the lower level. She turned to her Batarian agent standing off to the side. "Bray. Find out what she's looking for. Preferably before she finds it." Bray nodded and disappeared, activating his omnitool and contacting his 'Eyes on Omega' network on the way out the door. It wasn't long before Bray realized there were many more players on Omega than Aria would be happy with, and he intended to find out why.

Liara and Riana sat at the lower bar and chatted about everything but Commander Shepard. Eventually, a Drell named Feron came up to the couple and identified himself as Liara's contact. He was ready to talk, but not at the bar. "Too many people listening," he said.

Liara and Riana followed him out and down a back corridor, being very careful to ensure Garrus and Sellis noted their departure and were following. They did not know Feron other than by name, and Drell were a reptilian species with dense muscle tissue, making them extremely fast and strong; many were trained as assassins or protectors, so Liara had no intention of underestimating the information trader. Finally, the Drell stopped and turned to speak to them, "Shepard is not alive. Her body in a stasis pod..." Before he got any further, a small group of Blue Suns rolled quickly around the corner, weapons drawn and ready to fire. Liara and Riana quickly pulled up their biotics and prepared for a fight as a large Krogan stepped forward from the merc group.

"Only if you want to die where you're standing, Dr T'Soni." Holding them at gunpoint, the large Krogan started speaking. "The only reason you're not already dead is because the Broker is curious about why you are so eager to find a corpse."

Liara glared at the Krogan and answered but also asked a question of her own. "She is important to me. What's the Broker want with her?"

The Krogan laughed "She WAS important to you. She's dead. And the Broker's business is his own. Who his clients are is not your concern. Besides, you are in no position to be asking questions." Just then a rifle shot ripped through the Krogan's left eye and all hell broke loose. Thank you, Garrus! Liara and Riana both lit up with biotics and finished off the Krogan with a lift and warp combo creating quite the explosion, killing a couple of the other mercs as well. Liara was initially surprised by the amount of gunfire produced by the conflict, but soon it was clear exactly where all the fire support came from. As the last Blue Sun fell, Liara, Riana and Feron suddenly found themselves surrounded by a large squad of Cerberus troops. Even with Garrus and Sellis' assistance, they wouldn't survive a battle against a full squad, so Liara holstered her pistol and let her biotics trickle off her fingertips, Riana quickly following suit.

A woman speaking with an Australian accent approached them. "Dr T'Soni, I am Miranda Lawson, and as you have undoubtedly concluded, I work for Cerberus. We have a common goal, you and I. We both want Commander Shepard back. We both know she is the only person in the galaxy capable of stopping the Reapers."

Liara looked at Miranda like she was crazy, a mix of anger and grief in her eyes as she choked out her next words. "Shepard's dead, Ms Lawson. I just want to bring her home."

Miranda looked at Feron, and then back to Liara. "Is that what the Drell told you? Shepard is not dead, though neither is she alive. She is in stasis, and we can rebuild her and bring her back."

"Th-that's not likely. That can't be possible, can it?" Liara's heart leapt in her chest at the possibility, even as her mind told her it was insanity.

"Before I tell you anything else or answer any questions, my boss wants to speak to you." Miranda held up her omnitool, and a holographic projection of a man appeared. "Hello, Dr T'Soni. It's very nice to meet you. I've read your papers on the Reapers. Even though you referred to them only as 'sentient machines' and failed to mention them by name, the concept is correct and it's still fine work. More people need to listen to you, before it's too late."

Liara was flabbergasted. She had no idea who this man was, but he knew about her research on the extinction of the Protheans and gave credence to her Reaper theories that were largely disregarded as juvenile delusions among the academic circles. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Who I am is not important. Most simply refer to me as the Illusive Man, and I lead Cerberus. What IS important is what I can do for you, and for the galaxy. Miranda should have already informed you about our plans to resurrect the commander. We call it Project Lazarus. Bodies can be rebuilt, Dr T'Soni; with a single sample of uncompromised DNA, cloning and cybernetic enhancements, the body can be replaced. We need Shepard; assuming her brain is intact and hasn't become damaged due to her prolonged exposure to space, there is a very good chance she can live again. The Blue Suns were on Alchera when the Normandy went down. They immediately recovered her and put her into a stasis pod to halt any degeneration, and she has remained there since. We need you and Feron to retrieve that pod for us. The Blue Suns are in the process of delivering it to the Shadow Broker, who has plans to sell her to the Collectors. We simply cannot let that happen. I understand this is a lot to take in, Doctor. Do you have any questions?"

Mention of the Collectors shocked them all; that was bad news indeed. If Shepard made it into the hands of the Collectors, she would never be seen again, that much was a given. Liara's mind was reeling. Goddess, is it possible? Could I possibly get Samantha back? Can I risk NOT doing it? It's a chance! A chance I have to take! She looked at the holograph, still not truly believing. "Why me? You have all of Cerberus at your command, so why me?"

The Illusive Man responded, "That's very simple, Doctor. We would be shot out of the sky before we could even get close. For some reason though, the Broker has identified an interest in you; you are an enigma, and may actually be able to get to him. But mostly, we picked you because you were already looking, and nothing beats someone with a personal motive driving them. Unless I am mistaken, you have very strong personal motivations, Dr T'Soni. Please feel free to contradict me if I am mistaken. Otherwise, if there's nothing else, I leave you in Miranda's very capable hands. I do hope you agree to work with us. Good day, Doctor."

With that, the hologram faded and Miranda dropped her omnitool. She stood there for a few moments, waiting for Liara to speak. When she did not, Miranda's blue eyes flashed with impatience. "Well? I haven't got all day. If you're not going to do it, I need to get other plans in motion."

Liara's thoughts were confusion incarnate; so much had been revealed in the last hour, she was struggling to form a coherent assessment of the new circumstances. Liara suddenly wheeled on Feron, her biotics flaring, "Why did you let me believe she was dead? Did you know the Collectors were involved?"

Feron held his hands up defensively, "I had no idea! I needed the money and picked up a last-minute job from the Broker. All it entailed was to distract you; to stall you until the transaction was complete. No way I would've done it if I had known the deal was with the Collectors! I swear it!"

Liara was furious and was ready to kill Feron on the spot when Miranda stepped in. "Wait! He's a Broker agent...he can get us onto the Broker base. Where is the exchange supposed to take place, Drell?"

Feron looked pitiful. "I don't know. It was a last minute job and I didn't need to know, so no one told me. I can't reveal information I don't have. But Shepard is still here though. They haven't moved her yet."

Liara closed her eyes, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When she opened her eyes again, they were steel blue. "There is only one thing to do. Goddess. Of all people. We have to ask Aria."

In all the confusion, no one saw Bray slip out of the shadows and hustle down the corridor.

Garrus pulled Liara to the side and spoke with her privately on their way to Afterlife. "You can't do this! I understand taking her from the Blue Suns and the collectors, but you absolutely cannot give Shepard's body to Cerberus!"

"What choice do we have, Garrus?" Liara felt trapped. "They have the potential to bring her back! You have to know I'd give anything for that!"

Garrus adamantly shook his head. "Even if you have to sell your soul? Sell Shepard's soul? Think about this before you can't undo it! By the Spirits, Liara! They've done horrible things, conducted horrendous experiments...they killed her father just to steal some antimatter!" Garrus paused for a moment before continuing. "Besides that, without seeing her, how can they even promise anything? It's not possible! What they bring back won't be Commander Shepard; it would be a clone at best, the technology doesn't exist for anything else! I'll help you, but only if you swear it's to give her a proper warrior's funeral...that you won't turn her body over to those terrorists!"

Liara's eyes flashed in anger. "You think I'm not asking myself all those questions, Garrus? I dream about her every night! I wake up thinking about what I'd give to have her back...just to have her alive again! Since the minute I realized she wasn't on the Madrid when I woke up. I left her behind...she told me to go, and I did! Goddess, against my better judgment, against every instinct I possess... I left her!" Liara was crying as she finished. "I would give my life and swap places with her without a second thought, but I can't...but I can do this! I can give her a chance. And I trust her, Garrus. If they truly bring back Samantha Shepard, she will do what's right. And I'll pray she can find it in her heart and soul to forgive me, but I'll live with the consequences if she can't. At least she'll be alive to make the choice." Liara looked at Garrus, her eyes pleading for understanding that did not come. "I'm sorry, but I have to take that chance! It's all I have left! Please stand with me on this..."

Garrus stared at the Asari for a long moment before coming to a resolution. "I'm sorry too, Liara. I won't try to stop you, but I can't help you, either. I'll head back to the ship and collect my stuff. I...won't be going back to Thessia with you."

Tears continued to run down Liara's face as she watched Garrus turn away from her. She pled one more time, "Garrus, please! We need you...I need you!"

Garrus paused briefly, but did not look back at her before he resumed walking away. "Not like this, you don't."

Liara took a deep ragged breath and wiped her tears away as she watched Garrus disappear around a distant corner. She turned back toward Afterlife and resumed her walk; each step hardened her resolve to complete the task at hand and bring Commander Shepard back to the galaxy of the living. By the time Liara approached Afterlife, there was no casual saunter of a maiden on vacation. Liara strode with purpose. Feron, with his shorter legs, sometimes had to jog to keep up. As Liara steamrolled up to the door this time, the bouncer just looked at her with somewhat of a surprised look and waived her through. Liara made a beeline to Aria's loft, and it was obvious Aria was expecting her. With a smug expression on her face, Aria drawled, "Ah, Dr T'Soni. Back so soon?"

Liara was very impatient. "Aria, I'm sure you know why I'm here. The Blue Suns are about to make a very high credit transaction. I need to know where on Omega it's happening."

Aria was not to be pushed. "Ah, yes. You know, after you left I sent Bray out to do a bit of investigating. He found some very interesting things. Cerberus? Blue Suns and a stasis pod?..."

Liara cut her off. "Aria! I don't have time for your games. They are selling Shepard to the Collectors!"

Aria suddenly rose off her couch and extended to her full height; her eyes narrowed and drilled into the Asari before her. Though not much physically larger than Liara, the Matriarch's powerful presence was still overwhelming with the anger that poured off her in waves, a hint of biotics causing faint blue tendrils of power to overflow off her fingertips. Suddenly, Liara was very frightened. Aria was not only known for her cool demeanor, her logical unemotional approach to business, but also for a propensity to solve problems with violence...and the Queen of Omega was definitely angry. A very uncharacteristic look of absolute loathing rippled across Aria's face and Liara thought she was dead. Apparently, one did not interrupt the Pirate Queen and live to tell about it. Liara inadvertently took a step back, and bumped into Riana.

Aria shot forward with two quick steps, placing herself within an arm's reach of Liara. "Collectors? They are selling her to the Collectors?"

Liara was trying to remember how to breathe when she suddenly felt Riana's strong hand on her back, providing support, and that was all she needed to break Aria's spell. Goddess, what was I thinking? "Yes, the Collectors. And I aim to stop it. Do you know where it's happening? Please, Aria." Liara's voice was pleading, but hopeful.

"Fucking Collectors again... Bray! What did you find?" Aria turned her angry gaze to the Batarian, and he was very glad he had an answer.

"The Blue Suns have set up a transfer station down at Mine Dock 2." Bray glanced from Aria to Liara as he spoke. "Seems the most likely place."

Aria scowled in return. "You'd better be right... Take them there the fastest way you know how." Looking to Liara again, she resumed speaking, "T'Soni. You'd better stop them. If you don't, I promise you, I will hunt you to the ends of the galaxy. There will be no place you can hide."

As soon as Bray left with Liara, Aria called her fleet captain to blockade the relay; she wasn't one to leave things to chance and in the event T'Soni failed, Aria would still ensure the Collectors never left the Omega Nebula alive. Settling back on her couch, Aria pursed her lips in thought; this was an opportunity to test T'Soni's resolve and solo capabilities and Aria looked forward to the results. Dr T'Soni and Spectre Shepard had been an up and coming power couple and Councilor Tevos had been impressed with their work against Sovereign and Saren. The apparent death of the Spectre had troubled Tevos greatly, but something was going on that Aria couldn't quite put her finger on; damn Tevos and her secrets. Still, never one to waste resources, if the young Asari succeeded, Aria would do what she could to cultivate some form of a business relationship with the new leader of house T'Soni. If she failed...well, Aria's threat didn't carry the teeth her normal threats did; Tevos would frown upon her eliminating the leader of such an influential Asari family, so all Aria would be able to do was make her life difficult, not kill her... Aria smirked at the thought. I can be very good at making things difficult.

By the time they got to the mine, Liara feared they were too late. A ship was already docked, and there was a large group of Blue Suns, but no stasis pod in sight. Bray immediately slipped off to the side, having no intention of participating in the fight, and promptly pulled out a special pistol with a magnetic tracking device. Sticking to the shadows, he circled around the side, shot the ship and verified a solid transmission signal before moving to a location where he could observe the coming attractions. He checked his network reports and confirmed the team had located the Drell's ship and had tagged that as well, along with the Aletheia shuttle; nobody was going anywhere without Bray being able to tell Aria where they were headed.

Liara realized they must have already loaded the pod and watched as a Salarian exited the ship to talk to one of the mercs. Feron froze and whispered to Liara, "That's Tazzik! He is the Shadow Broker's top enforcer! There's no way we're going to get to that ship! Not with all those Blue Suns and Tazzik there!"

Liara glared at him. "Shepard is right there! We are too close to stop now! We have to get her back!"

Feron insisted, "There's too many of them. Maybe we can use one of the old defense cannons to disable the ship to keep them from leaving with the body. Then we can pick them off slowly, and not have to rush them, four against all of them!" Liara was still undecided, but was swayed by Riana when the huntress agreed with Feron's plan. Feron melted into the shadows and quickly reappeared at one the defense cannons along the right side of the docking bay. Unfortunately, the cannons hadn't been used or calibrated in a long while, and his shot went wide, blowing up some cargo beside the ship instead and prompting everyone to action. The mercs immediately sought out the enemy and started firing, and Liara flared her biotics, throwing a singularity into the middle of the merc pack. Riana quickly followed with a warp, taking a number of the Blue Suns down. Tazzik calmly stepped forward, pointed his weapon toward the two Asari, and pulled the trigger. Riana yelled, "Grenade!" as Feron dove across and tackled Liara out of its path. After the explosion, the trio all stood up, chagrined to see Tazzik's ship leaving Omega, with Shepard's body on board. Liara cursed under her breath. Damn Garrus! Had he stuck around, Tazzik would have been dead before he ever got that grenade launcher up to fire and this would be over! Liara was jerked out of her contemplation by Feron speaking.

Surprising for the quiet Drell, Feron practically shouted, "We've got to go! We can still cut this off. There is only one Broker base in the sector. He has to be headed for Alingon! My ship has the docking protocols... I can get us in."

Notes: As a side note, I've started writing "Quick Shots" as little gap fillers and additional background pieces to add a bit more depth and history to the characters. The first few are pre-ME1 that give a bit of Shepard's beginnings; later they'll be pieces that expand on the story that didn't make it into final versions of the chapters... hope you enjoy! They'll be posted on Mondays, where main story line will continue to be posted on Fridays.