Disclaimer: Mass Effect is copyright of Bioware. Many of the characters contained herein—Shepard included—are property of Bioware. Shepard is partially of my forging, since I am able to choose many of his reactions to events within the parameters of the game. The sequence of events and their outcomes are property of Bioware. The interpretations of and reactions to the events are largely my own. Ci-Ci is mine. Please do not repost this story or any parts of it herein. Always give credit where it is due. I owe the Mass Effect Wiki a great deal for helping me figure out timelines, details, and other such things that I did not pick up during the game.

I welcome constructive and/or encouraging reviews/critiques. Thank you for reading. Enjoy!

23 April 2185—Warp Nightclub, Presidium Ward, the Citadel, Serpent Nebula

Ariadne Enig tapped her fingers on her glass of wine in a high-pitched staccato. Somehow or other, she'd managed to let the other girls at the gallery drag her to a bar in hopes that she would "meet someone". Frankly, she had to yet to see anyone who would make the cut.

"Don't be so nervous!" her asari friend, Mia, shouted over the loud, pulsing music. "You're beautiful! You'll find someone."

Ariadne smiled enigmatically. "Thank you, Mia," she answered, her English accent as crisp and curt as ever, "but I'm fine without falling in love."

"Who said anything about love? I'm talking about one blazing, passionate night of release."

"I wouldn't even let my last boyfriend touch me like that, so what makes you think I'll let a complete stranger?"

"Lots of wine and giggles, that's what. C'mon. You're dancing with me." Mia tried to drag Ariadne to the dance floor, but Ariadne didn't move. "Aw, what's wrong?"

"I'd rather just sit here and listen," Ariadne answered. "You go ahead. I'll be here when you get back."

Mia shrugged and wandered off, melting into the club's pulsing crowd. Ariadne took a long drink of wine. Like any art dealer, she had standards. High standards. People at bars rarely met them.

Even so, her eyes glanced over everyone there. Several turian members of C-Sec were having a loud bachelor party for a human coworker. A drell was leaning in a corner without a drink, hood up and watching the crowd. A dark complexioned, purple-skinned asari was approaching her, eyes smoldering and hips swaying seductively.

Ariadne sighed. This ALWAYS happened to her. Every time she walked into a bar, an asari started a conversation that was always just a little more than friendly. Ariadne, on the other hand, only liked men in that manner and they were all getting drunk, married and getting drunk, or married and trying to have an affair by getting the girl drunk.

"I must say, you have a certain… beauty around you," the asari started, smiling so sweetly that it was poisonous.

Ariadne hid her shudder. "Well, perhaps it's because I'm still in my right mind."

The asari sat. "I've seen you before. You're Ariadne Enig, aren't you? I've seen your work featured at that Prothean Gallery. Oh, what's it called?"

"The Hellas Gallery," Ariadne answered. "What of my work caught your eye?"

"All of it: the sculptures, the paintings, the drawings…" The asari smiled. "It was a song to my soul."

Ariadne was lucky that she was taking another drink of wine because it hid her snort of laughter. "That's... I've never had anyone tell me that before."

The asari shifted, her hand brushing Ariadne's thigh. "I've never had someone touch me so deeply."

Ariadne shuddered and drained her wine glass. "Thank you… I guess..."

"What inspired you? I've read the old human stories and I've seen some of the sculptures, but nothing with that much emotional charge! Your pieces on Achilles are…" The asari sighed romantically.

Ariadne blushed, not because of the compliments, but rather because she was thinking of the inspiration behind her Achilles. "As with anything, it's a dream, imagination, and a sprinkle of reality."

"Ooh… A man?"

"I think I'd call him more of a legend." Ariadne raised a hand to order another drink. "But… Ooh, what is that song playing?"

The asari listened. "Whatever it is, it's… invigorating. Do you like music?"

"Very much so. I've never met anyone who agreed…" Something was tugging at Ariadne's mind, warning her of delicious danger. She could feel her inhibitions melting as she sank deeper into the asari's spell. If only to distract herself and clear her mind-focus on something else-Ariande opened her omni-tool.

"What are you doing?" the asari asked.

"I thought you might like to see my latest works. It was heavily influenced by the human composer Wagner."

"I'd love to see it in person…"

Ariadne closed her omni-tool. "I don't see why not." She stood up, her mind racing. The asari fit the description of a fugitive named Morinth who was, according to Ariadne's sources (namely Liara T'Soni), being hunted by an asari Justicar.

They left Warp and walked out into the Presidium. It was quiet, but brightly lit. The damage from Sovereign had been almost completely cleaned up, restoring the Ward to its former serene beauty. They wandered past the Mass Relay monument. Ariadne stopped to look at it, her heart rising in her throat.

"Are you alright?" Morinth asked, brushing up against Ariadne.

"You asked where my inspiration came from," Ariadne murmured. She gestured to the monument. "Have you heard of Commander Shepard?"

"Who hasn't?"

"He was the inspiration."

"You knew him?"

"I had met him."

"You loved him."

Ariadne smiled softly. "You might say that."

Morinth moved closer. "Every broken heart can be mended." She lightly touched Ariadne's cheek, leaning in close. "You just need the right thread."

Ariadne shifted uncomfortably. "I… I've never done… this…"

"Don't worry, sweetling. I'll be gentle."

Ariadne moved like lightning, knocking Morinth's feet out from under her. "Sorry, but I don't swing that way."

Morinth's shock wore off quickly. Her biotics flared and she threw Ariadne into the Mass Relay monument. The asari panicked. She'd watched Ariadne Enig for days and she'd never given any indication of being… trained. That kick had come from a warrior.

Ariadne drew her pistol and shot. The bullets never broke through the biotic barrier. Morinth ran, Ariadne hot on her heels. She slowed to kick off her shoes, opening her omni-tool and scanning the area. She found Morinth running towards the Market Wards. If she got in there, Ariadne wouldn't be able to track her. "Damn it… Liara! Please answer."

"Ariadne? It's the middle of the night…" Liara answered groggily.

"Find out if there's an asari Justicar on the Citadel. I found one of their fugitives."

"What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

"Nothing worse than the usual."

Liara sighed. "I'm looking now. Yes, one checked in a few hours ago. She was last seen at C-Sec."

"Good. That's exactly where this monster's running…"

"Please tell me you aren't looking for that Ardat-Yakshi." Ardat-Yakshis were part of the asari's darkest legends. Instead of gently joining with their mates, they sucked the life out of their partners and killed them painfully and gruesomely. They were forbidden from leaving the asari's home planet of Thessia, but every so often, one escaped.

"Almost got picked up by her," Ariadne answered merrily.

"Ariadne!"

"What?"

"You weren't… tempted, were you?"

"Are you kidding me?" Ariadne laughed. "Now, if you'll excuse me…" Ariadne shut off the transmission before Liara could say something… incriminating.

Ariadne sprinted into C-Sec. They looked at her curiously. Usually when a well-dressed, pretty woman ran in, she was running from someone. She stopped, smiled, and looked around. "Anyone seen a Justicar?"

A tall, curvy asari, dressed in all red, stepped forward. "Perhaps I can be of assistance. You are?"

"That's… We'll talk about that on the way. I've found Morinth."

The Justicar's eyes flared. "Where?"

"We can talk about that on the way. Please, mistress…"

The Justicar nodded. "It is unwise to lie to me."

"I understand. She tried to seduce me in a club half an hour ago. When she made a move, I fought back."

"Unwise."

"Better than dying."

"Perhaps, but you have not explained who you are."

"You can call me Ariadne Enig."

"But that is not your real name?"

"No, it isn't, but that isn't relevant to the mission."

"As you say. Tell me what you know."

Ariadne explained quickly, showing a map to where she'd tracked Morinth.

"Your technology and skills are... unusual."

"I am unusual."

"Spectre?"

Ariadne nodded.

"I had only heard of two human Spectres, both of whom are dead."

"As you say." Ariadne winked. "But death is just a status, isn't it?"

The Justicar inclined her head. "I thank you. I shall continue the pursuit from here. Should she approach you…"

"I can't guarantee that the kill will be yours, but I'll let you know."

"I understand." The Justicar left without another word.

"Are you insane?" Liara hissed in Ariadne's ear, making Ariadne jump in shock.

"God, Liara! You scared me. I thought I cut off the transmission."

"I reopened it. You aren't the only one who's good with technology."

"She's a Justicar. I can't just lie to her."

"You should have. Too many people know."

"The Council, Anderson, and you…"

"That six people. Seven, with her."

"Do you even know the Justicar code, Liara?"

"No…"

"She isn't allowed to say. Let me worry about it."

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is. I'm staying out of trouble."

"I wouldn't call THIS—"

"It was a slight tangent. No biggie."

"So are all your art and all those trips to Ilos!"

Ariadne sighed. As per usual, Liara was getting frustrated. Ever since faking her death, Corinthia had been masquerading as Ariadne Enig. Of course, Corinthia had created Ariadne to begin with, so it was only natural that she assume that identity. The former Lieutenant Commander had set her ship on auto-pilot, cloaked herself, mixed in with the Shadow Broker agents to avoid detection, stowed away on their ship, and "restarted" as Ariadne, an artist and art dealer. She'd spent months convincing the Council that it was better for her to be declared dead. They had finally given in and let her go about her business. All her records were sealed, as was procedure upon death, and, for all intents and purposes, the galaxy thought that she was dead. She felt terrible for doing it. Aside from Liara, no one from the "old days" knew of her survival, and Corinthia was going to have to keep it that way.

"Let me worry about this, Liara. You have other things to worry about, you know. Thanks for the help." Ariadne ended the transmission before Liara could protest. They both faced the difficult task of never, ever revealing that Corinthia still lived. Ariadne and Liara were old friends (with all kinds of records to prove the friendship), so they could speak like they knew one another, but Ariadne could never slip back into being Corinthia (as in drop the accent and dress like a soldier instead of a socialite). She could never drop character. She had even gone so far as to get her scars (facial and body) surgically removed, wore make-up to make her eyes look more green, grew out her hair and given it a flattering cut, and rarely dressed in anything but designer, fashionable, chic dresses. She had passed people she knew—Joker, Tali, Alenko, Dr. Chakwas, and several other—and not one of them had recognized her. She hadn't seen Wrex or Garrus, but she doubted that they would know her, either.

She went back to the Presidium to pick up her shoes (which were, oddly enough, still there) before returning to her home. Against her will, she'd sold her first apartment in the Presidium and bought another closer to her gallery. This one was full of modern, stylish furniture and original artwork from some of the most prominent artists of the times, not to mention Prothean artifacts and statues. Unable to betray her actual identity, she'd hid all of her holos of herself, her family, and (most importantly), her and Shepard. They were all from before they were together, but the more she looked at them, the more she could see that his affections had been rooted for years before he'd ever said something about them.

She tossed her shoes into a basket by the door and flopped down onto her sofa. She'd had a long day, without having to chase Morinth. The Cerberus facility she was scouting had been destroyed due to a technology malfunction. Though it was something that she would have done, it hadn't been her fault, which meant that someone else was crossing Cerberus. That gave her another ally, if she could find the perpetrator.

Worse, another colony, Freedoms' Progress, had gone missing. She'd returned from her initial investigation, finding no bodies, no survivors, and a little bit of quarian blood. The situation hadn't improved when she saw the damage done to the colony. Someone had torn through the place with an assault rifle and grenade launcher, getting rid of all evidence that may have remained to help her track the Collectors.

Either way, they'd struck again and she was nowhere closer to finding them or their base. She'd only agreed to go out with her coworkers so that she could clear her mind before she started her work again. And, of course, that didn't happen. She ALWAYS ended up in the middle of something.

"Hello, Ariadne," a perky woman suddenly said out of nowhere.

She groaned. "Kasumi… Why can't you just come by the office?"

"Where's the fun in that? Your security's tighter than anywhere else in the galaxy." The thief turned off her cloaking device. She was sitting in one of the chairs, legs crossed and hood up. "You'd think that you were hiding something."

"Ever since you broke into my warehouse, I know better than to put anything special where you can get to it."

Kasumi Goto was hands-down the best thief in the galaxy. Ariadne had accidentally walked in on Kasumi mid-heist as the thief tried to take a Prothean statue from the gallery's warehouse. Interestingly enough, the moment Ariadne questioned why Kasumi would choose one particular sculpture over another ("Honestly, if you're looking for something good, you should really be looking in that corner; it's where I keep the nudes"), Kasumi decided that the two of them should be friends. Ariadne agreed when she heard Kasumi's answer ("I would, but I've already got a living, breathing one waiting for me"). Kasumi had been wandering in and surprising Ariadne ever since.

Ariadne sat up, smiling. "What do you need?"

Kasumi opened her omni-tool and opened a holo image. "This."

Ariadne raised an eyebrow. "Is that…"

"Saren Arterius," Kasumi answered cheerily. "I need a life-size statue of him for a client."

"I thought you were a thief."

"I paid you for the things I took."

"And I appreciate it, but commissions aren't your style."

"I told you that it wasn't for me."

"You're asking me to sculpt a… a…" Ariadne shook her head. She couldn't finish the sentence.

"I'll make sure to destroy it once I'm through. These are the specifications."

Ariadne examined them. The statue's base was to have two drawers to hide armor and weapons within. "This is… You don't need all of this equipment."

Kasumi frowned. "You're asking a lot of questions."

"It's because I don't like it. Him."

"Trust me."

Ariadne laughed bitterly. "After what happened last time?"

"That was an accident! I didn't mean to destroy the warehouse!"

"Oh, really? I thought you were just trying to cover your tracks. Or was it to follow that cute guy?"

"What can I say? Sometimes a man with a good body is worth pursuing." Kasumi smiled deviously. "So, will you do it?"

"If you give me a very good reason."

"Keiji."

Ariadne softened immediately. Keiji was to Kasumi as Shepard was to Corinthia (including the part that they were dead). "When do you need it done?"

"As soon as possible."

"Does it just need to look nice?"

"Pretty much. I don't know if I can bring it back for you to put a sledgehammer through it, though."

"Why would I do that?"

Kasumi cocked her head to one side. "Your accent it good, but it isn't perfect. You sometimes forget about it when you laugh. Besides, you forgot a picture." Kasumi held out a holo of Shepard.

Ariadne looked at the proffered disk. "That wasn't here."

"It was in your office."

"Why were you in there?"

"To pick a Prothean sculpture."

"The first time?"

"Yep."

Ariadne rubbed her eyes. "So you've known all along?"

"Well, if you look closely, it is a little obvious. You aren't sexy enough when you walk in heels."

"I'll work on that. Can I have it, please?"

Kasumi put the holo in Ariadne's hand. "You're lucky, you know."

"Why's that?"

Kasumi turned on her cloaking device and headed to the door. "You'll get more than a memory."

Ariadne turned on the holo. It was Shepard in a moment of weakness, smiling (or as much as he ever did) with his arm slung around Corinthia's shoulders. It had been a birthday party she'd thrown for him, a few weeks before they were assigned to the Normandy, with a few people they both knew. Her heart wrenched. Even though she dreamed about him every night (literally; it made her feel like a walking cliché), seeing a picture of him just made her want the real thing all the more badly.

She uploaded the holo to her omni-tool before destroying the hard copy. She was getting sloppy. Kasumi was smart and sneaky, but so was Cerberus. Honestly, Ariadne was surprised that she'd managed to keep her real identity a secret for as long as she had. It was only a matter of time before she would have to pick one life over the other. She was going to have to choose to be Corinthia-Imreas, she knew, because she was going to have to fight the Reapers and the Collectors. One more month as Ariadne and she would have enough money to invest and fund her mission, with squad-mates, a ship, and everything.

But first things first, she had to sculpt that bastard Saren. Why did she ever decide to pick up a hobby in addition to saving the world?