Disclaimer: Bioware owns almost all.

A/N: So after over a year of work we finally come to the end. Thanks so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, and followed along. You all make projects such as this so much more fun and worthwhile. And a huge thanks to Sesh for helping me with every single chapter. I couldn't have done this without your help and support. Lastly, this chapter is rated M for sex and violence – no big surprise there.

Chapter 46

"We're clear – no tracers, no bombs, no one on our tail."

I cocked a mischievous eyebrow. "No stowaways?"

"Nope." Vale rubbed his wrists almost absently, still raw from his torture. "I'm sure we could change that if you like."

"I'm good," I said, inspecting the bruise on his cheek. "We really should treat that. It looks horrible."

Vale threw me a cocky half-smile made awkward by a pained wince. "I'll slap some medigel on it soon as we're away."

I nodded, unwilling to say further on the matter, choosing instead to watch him work in the dim light of the bridge.

"Coordinates entered," he stated matter-of-factly. "At this speed we should hit the relay in approximately two hours."

I felt my blood warm and pulse quicken as he stood to face me, green eyes hooded in Omega's shadow. "Any destination in particular?"

"The Horsehead Nebula – I've got a contact there who I know can help us." He moved around the captain's chair to stand before me, rough hand grazing my cheek as his fingers traced the line of my jaw.

I mumbled my acknowledgement, choosing to ignore the kernel of wariness in the back of my mind. I had already put the day's cares behind me in favor of more pleasing activity. Vale said nothing as I pulled him to me, surrendering to my desire. I kissed him lightly at first, tentatively, as if tenderness could ease the pain of Aria's marks. And for a time we yielded to the simplicity of the moment, savoring the taste of each other, the familiarity, until finally acquiescing to the burgeoning heat between us.

He plucked the clothing from my body with alacrity, his kisses fervent and demanding. Need, keen and razor sharp coursed through my veins, and abandoning control I pulled him inside me, relishing the ache of his presence.

Desire, pain, desperation drove us onward as he took me in the shadow of my former home, my prison, and I cried out as he marked me for his own. I could feel the heat of his breath on my shoulder, the scent of his lust on my skin and I pulled him ever closer, raking my nails down his spine, deliciously helpless against the tide of ecstasy threatening to overwhelm me.

And still he drove onward, hips bucking and compelled by lust. And I allowed it, allowed myself to once more be collared by pleasure, reveling in the illusion we had created. Even as my body crashed rhythmically against the console, even as I struggled to bring him ever closer, I knew it wasn't real. And it was the exquisite pain of that realization which finally thrust me over the edge.

And I welcomed the fall.

~O~

I awoke with a start, alone and bathed in the soft blue glow of the mass relay, my hackles raised and suddenly wary. The relay dominated the viewport, showering the small bridge in flickering shadow and setting my nerves aflame. I stood and dressed quickly, securing my stolen pistols on my hip as I began a cautious search of the ship.

An orange glow spilled onto the floor of the narrow corridor from the medbay, the voices within hushed. Padding softly down the hall I pressed an ear against the paneling and strained to listen. From what I could discern, Vale was negotiating a data transfer with an unknown individual on his terminal that I believed could only be his contact. Remembering my training I ignored the pounding of my heart, slowed my breathing and concentrated on the conversation within.

" – is authentic?" The voice the deep, smooth, and had the slight metallic tang which accompanied all interstellar communication.

"I guarantee it." I held my breath at Vale's response, igniting the spark of suspicion to which I had grown so accustomed.

"You did well."

"And the bounties?" I bit my lip at the familiarity in Vale's tone, ignoring the swelling anger in my gut.

"Lifted as per ordered." There was a slight pause followed by a flicker in the orange glow. I held my breath, waiting for the conversation to continue.

Vale coughed and cleared his throat. "We should arrive in-system within the hour. I'll be able to transfer the data at the rendezvous point."

"Agreed. And your excess baggage?"

I held my breath again at the pause in conversation, certain Vale could hear the blood pounding in my veins.

"Expendable." My heart sank at Vale's blunt admission, guilt and anger churning within me, but still I continued to listen. "She could be an asset to the agency if recruited."

Another lengthy pause and I could not help but imagine the anonymous contact rubbing his chin in thought. "Indeed. Cerberus could make use of her."

I pulled back from the doorway then, reeling, fighting against the torrent of emotion flooding my mind. As quietly as I had come, I backtracked down the corridor and into the bridge, biting my lip in thought. Again I was betrayed! How stupid was I to be fooled yet again by the promise of adventure, a pretty face? Freedom? I needed to stop thinking with my vagina.

Gripping the headrest of the pilot's seat I leaned over, placing my forehead on the chair's cool fabric and worked to gather my wits. I'd never learned the lesson of trust and now I knew why. It was a lesson better left unlearned. Trust led to betray. Betrayal led to death, and as I looked up and caught sight of the control panel I realized betrayal need not lead to my death.

It would be all too easy to seal the bridge and activate the emergency venting, tying up any and all loose ends running free on the ship. But as appealing as that idea was, I needed answers. Despite my anger, despite my guilt, I could not subject Vale to such a horrid end without first understanding his motivation, his plans. I also needed to know for certain if any other loose ends required severing.

Setting aside emotion in favor of practicality I went to work, manipulating the ship's unfamiliar controls as best I was able. I succeeded in locking out the other terminals and established the pilot's console as the only functional terminal on the ship. Satisfied with my meager victory, I sync'd up my omni-tool and sliced the terminal, setting up a simple password protection. Vale would have no access to the ship - no navigation, communication, and if I was indeed as successful as I hoped, no life support. If anything should happen to me, Vale would be left coasting on our present course and into the mass relay. With drift left unchecked, it would be a wonder if the ship made it through the relay at all.

Neither Arch nor Aria had taught me business sense, but I did enjoy a good guarantee nonetheless.

And so I waited for him, quietly seated in the pilot's chair, watching as we inched ever closer to the relay looming in the viewport. Vale did as I expected and returned to the bridge. I imagine he was surprised I was not still sleeping, but the tone of his greeting gave away nothing. I breathed deep, embracing my anger, my guilt, and let it settle upon my shoulders like a decorative mantle as I turned to him. He met my gaze unflinching, green eyes sparkling in the flickering shadow, the sapphire light of the relay blanketing his beautiful face in an unearthly glow.

I realized that I had always been attracted to him, that I loved the way he antagonized me, toyed with me, bedded me. I had never uncovered his secrets because Vale was better at this game than I, and I both hated and loved him for it. A swell of laughter gurgled and died in my chest as I realized that Aria would have found my situation infinitely humorous and I couldn't help but think she already knew it would happen. No wonder she let us walk.

"So you heard." It was more a statement - an acknowledgement - than a question and the words from Vale's lips fell like stones.

Nodding, I held his gaze. "It was hard not too – small ship and all."

He held his hands out as if in surrender and took a single step toward me, halting as he noticed the pistol suddenly in my hand. "So this is how it's going to be, Jin? After everything?"

Pushing aside a surge of anger I cocked an annoyed eyebrow. "After playing me for a fool? What were you really trying to accomplish?"

He studied me for a time before appearing to relent and returned to his original position. "You mean you haven't figured it out yet?"

Raising my pistol I flicked off the safety and eyed him. "I learned long ago not to make any assumptions. Let's just say I want confirmation."

His shoulders shook with light laughter. "Whatever you say, Jin."

I gestured with my pistol again. "Tell me."

"As you wish." He leaned almost casually against the wall, crossing his arms as he considered me. "I was being honest when I told you Guy – Arnold was used to lure you out into the open. I needed to know for certain that you were the one we wanted."

"We? You mean Cerberus," I practically spat.

He nodded plainly. "You were a means to an end, Jin, and I used you to get a leg up on Aria. Thanks to your timely rescue and lovely bit of blackmail, I have my assigned objective practically in hand."

I glanced to my omni-tool as the realization took hold. Guy had never worked for the Shadow Broker as Vale had told me, but based on his bank accounts he had been double dealing Aria and Cerberus. I had been set up from the beginning, fed lies, coaxed into doubt and desperation, all in a bid for power. My manipulation was a masterpiece, and my guilt sang as I knew it would have never been accomplished had I not allowed it. Vale had used my suspicion and lust against me, and yet again I felt a mix of respect and loathing for him.

"I'm surprised you didn't pick up on it sooner, Jin. I thought for sure the MWF in Arnold's bank accounts would give it away. What - it isn't a popular rumor on Omega that the Milky Way Foundation is a front for Cerberus?"

"No," I blurted. "Omega never concerned itself overmuch with Cerberus."

Vale snorted. "I never could understand why you liked that place so much."

A jolt of irritation flashed through my body. Omega might have been a pisshole, but it was my pisshole. I lived there. I worked there. I had loved there. Omega didn't hide what it was, didn't lie, didn't coerce. Omega spread her legs wide and whored herself out for those willing to enjoy her wares while proudly baring her vices. However seedy, however deadly she was, Omega was brutally honest.

I could not say the same for Vale, however, and my sudden flash of irritation soon turned cold. Pistol in hand I stood and faced him.

"What's it to be, Jin?" He straightened as I approached, eyeballing the muzzle pointed directly at him. "Are you really going to shoot me?"

The enormous eezo core of the relay glowed brightly in the viewport, the bridge humming with its energy and bathed in its light. I watched as his eyes met mine, saw the question in their midst and felt my will falter. Vale recognized it as well and took a tentative step toward me.

"Jin, you don't have to do this." He reached out and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "We can always find another way."

The pistol in my hand was no longer cool against my skin and had grown heavy in my hand. I longed to feel his lips upon my body, revel in the tides of ecstasy with him, sleep soundly against the steady drumming of his heartbeat, and so forgot myself in the moment as desire battled necessity. Vale recognized his opening and recklessly pulled me to him, crushing his lips against mine in a fevered, desperate kiss.

Gone was the familiarity of his warmth, the taste of his breath, the need to feel him inside me. Absent was the passion I once felt for him, the camaraderie. The necessity. Whatever we had was now corrupt. Without thought I raised my pistol, pressed it against his temple, and noted absently the look of disbelief on his face as I pulled the trigger.

The shot reverberated through the shadows, its echo lingering in the stillness of the bridge as the ship inched ever closer to the relay. I clung to my emptiness as I turned from his body, an unfeeling, practical machine once again, and attended to the pilot's console.

The course was still set for the Horsehead Nebula. I no longer saw any particular reason to continue on to that destination and many reasons to avoid it. But what other destination would suffice? I could not return to Omega as Aria would have my head, and I dare not frolic aimlessly around the Terminus systems any more than I already had. So where, then, was the most logical choice? Where could someone like me hide?

The hint of a smile curled the corner of my lips as an idea struck me, a dream from ages ago crushed by a woman long dead – a woman who had confiscated my favorite childhood book. Adjusting the coordinates for the Charon relay I stood with renewed vigor and whimsically clicked my heels together three times.

There's no place like home.

Together We Will Live Forever - Clint Mansell

Horizons - Puscifer