Liara sat atop a crate on the docks, watching the ships dock and flee the Citadel respectively, enjoying the organized chaos of it all. She, Tali and Shepard had left the Normandy to stretch their legs and get some supplies, but an Alliance admiral had quickly pulled the commander aside to talk about the Normandy itself. Liara's gaze flitted back to the two; the admiral seemed to be vigorously arguing something to Shepard, who just stood tall and calm against the man's verbal barrage. It was a much different Shepard than she remembered from the night she visited her. Everything about her speaks of confidence…her posture, her eyes…

Her mind trailed off to when she had stepped into the room, music cascading through the dimly lit room; Shepard had sat calmly in front of the device, her fingers gently maneuvering themselves across the board in time, her voice quiet and sincere. Liara hadn't been sure of whether or not the music had been a reflection of a personal story, or simply a production of another human, but hearing the woman sing about unrequited love had disturbed her plans of a brief, firm declaration that she would be leaving the ship. In hindsight, she was happy that the song had distracted her so, and pleased that the commander had wanted her to remain on board the ship. I cannot deny it is exciting that I will have plenty of opportunity to explore both prothean involvement in this…pursuit…but also the opportunity to possibly learn about the vision from the beacon. Goddess, to believe I had resigned myself to thinking I would leave the Normandy and never learn more of it. It is such a relief that the commander has no qualms with me…but I do feel like I have more questions about her now than I had before…

Though the unexpected musical performance had helped her in that regard, it had also shown a very different light of the human than she had expected. Especially the one I requested. She seemed…possessed while performing, entirely different than the first, yet…it nearly put her to sleep? She rubbed her eyes a lot, and she did look exhausted, but there was something else…It had been very much like Lieutenant Alenko had said…she seems like one person and then suddenly there's something else that has changed her, something new to uncover… Liara mused, thinking to their conversation. It hadn't been clear at the time, despite the cues of the music, but as she continued recalling their conversation, the truth became patently obvious. The commander was lonely.

It was a strange thought for Liara to process, seeing as Shepard seemed to be, according to others, friendly and willing to take time to visit everyone, but that night opened up a different perspective. There was a sense of desperation that confused her slightly. How is it that someone such as Shepard leads such a diverse crew, and remains in such a mindset? That…the endearing attention given to poor Tali was misconstrued by her as annoying…it is difficult to understand. The lieutenant mentioned that she has a history…perhaps past experiences have led her to such beliefs? Or perhaps she is just the opposite of me, needing social contact where I prefer solitude? Perhaps she checks in on the crew to feel more connected, but if so, why is that not enough? What balance must Shepard strike to obtain comfort? Is it merely that she misses the family that she mentioned the other night? I can relate to that…I miss mother terribly, even years after she's spoken to me, years after she cast me out. Is that what she requires? Humans are already confusing…I have a feeling she will only be more troublesome to understand. She seems so different in public…

She was at the very least pleased about Shepard's reaction to her spiel on asari culture. It was familiar territory for asari to wade through, expectations that her species were promiscuous. I will help her through that, hopefully, if she will allow. It would at least ensure she is more comfortable with me… or aunt Tevos, or any other asari she encounters. And…if she is lonely, perhaps I should visit her more, and then I can help her in both ways at the same time. Even if it is just me that visits her…perhaps I should discuss this with others?

Liara paused, noticing the admiral walk away down the docks to the elevator. Her eyes wandered over to Shepard and noticed the woman looking at her thoughtfully, though the commander quickly averted her gaze off to some random ship flying behind her. And she had breakfast with me this morning. Perhaps she will help the crew see me in a better light…I shall do my best on my own, certainly. Maybe I should ask if I can accompany the ground team on the next mission, to prove my loyalty… Liara hopped off the crate and roused Tali from whatever she was doing on her omni-tool, offering her hand to help her up.

"Are you still certain you wish to join us? I would not want you to exhaust yourself so soon after injury, Tali." Liara asked, concerned for the young girl's health. She was more stable on her feet the past few hours and had demanded the chance to get out and get some exercise and see the Citadel.

"Yes." Tali answered, taking Liara's hand and getting to her feet. "I really like the Normandy, but I want to see the Citadel. The last time was…not the most pleasant of times, and I'd like to sight-see a little."

Liara smiled at the quarian as they walked over to join Shepard, who was still distracted by the passing ships.

"Are you ready, Shepard?" Liara asked. The commander broke out of her reverie and glanced back and forward between the two of them, looking slightly apprehensive for a moment before her expression stilled into the same stoic form as with the admiral.

"Yeah. Let's go." She said with a smile, turning toward the waiting elevator.

"…So if I swap out one of my stabilizers for one of those barrel modifications, my shotgun will be more powerful?" Tali asked, as the trio walked through the Kithoi Ward marketplace. "Won't that added power do away with some of the gains from the remaining stabilizer?"

"Well, yes. But I figure, barrel mods are useful anyway to pretty much any weapon, and if we can get you used to working with only a single stabilizer, and then add the modification and get you used to that, it shouldn't be much of an issue. It's not really a noticeable recoil, it just overheats your gun a bit quicker. Good for killing things fast, and it gives you more stopping power. Your call though, Tali." Shepard explained, happy that the quarian had taken to the shotgun so quickly.

"Well…if it's in the name of efficiency…I'll give it a shot." Tali stated thoughtfully. "Anyways, Shepard, don't you need to get to the Spectre requisitions officer in C-sec still?"

"Yeah, I figured I'd stop there when we were all done." Shepard noted, frowning. "You feeling alright? Are you getting tired?" Shepard hadn't been very happy with Tali's plan to go visit the Citadel, considering she was still healing from her injuries and recovering from her fever. The quarian's determination and threat to go alone after Shepard left to shop were enough to get her to agree. Still, I hope she's feeling well. I like just walking around like this. These two make for pretty good company, even if blue over there's been really quiet this whole time.

"I'm fine Shepard." Tali answered, exasperated. "I could walk for a few more hours, easily. Now let's find a rapid transit terminal." Tali finished, grabbing Shepard's hand and lugging her down the corridor. She just rolled her eyes and looked back at Liara, who appeared stunned. She gestured with her other hand to follow, prompting the asari to jog after them.

The quarian insisted on taking the controls of the skycar, much to Shepard's dismay, forcing her into the middle seat, shoulders grazing against both Tali and Liara's. She felt her body react as usual, but it was more subdued, which piqued Shepard's interest, but still frustrated her. Liara's just a member of the crew, she doesn't want in your pants, and I don't want in hers, so there's no reason for me to feel this way. I should be fine…stupid body. I…

Shepard's thoughts were interrupted by a loud beep from her omni-tool. She took the happy distraction and opened up her message inbox. Quickly, her happiness soured as she looked at the sender. Sha'ira…shit. She grumbled internally, opening the message to find it with a simple message. 'I desire your help'. Well, if not for her, Tali wouldn't be here, so I should probably see what she wants.

"It looks like we'll have to make a quick stop on the presidium before getting more equipment." Shepard noted, closing down her omni-tool.

"Is something wrong?" Tali asked from the driver's seat, activating the autopilot as they reached the C-Sec terminal.

"Probably not. The consort's cashing in her favour, most likely." Shepard replied, annoyed that she'd be visiting the consort so soon in the day. I needed to go to her anyway to set up a meeting with Tevos, but…well, I guess it all works out, so long as she behaves. And so long as I behave…

"The consort?" Liara asked, her voice betraying unease. "You owe her a favour?"

Shepard shrunk in on herself a little, shrugging sheepishly. She's probably been aware of the consort's…reputation…

"Yeah, she… uh…helped me out a while back in finding Tali. I owe her after that." Shepard noted, looking at the asari next to her. Liara seemed to be deep in thought, brows furrowed. Wonder if she knows Sha'ira…no Shepard, that's dumb. Not all asari happen to know each other. Seriously…

"She helped you find me?" Tali asked, surprised. "Keelah, I'll be happy to help, if I can. I owe this consort person that much."

"Well, if it's anything strenuous, I'll make you sit out, alright?" Shepard asked, noticing Liara nearly choking beside her as she spoke. Alright, yeah, she…definitely knows something…

The trio exited the skycar and made their way across the presidium toward the consort's place of business, Shepard taking in the sights much like she had last time she'd been around the area. Seriously, maybe if I make enough credits, I'll install a fountain in that lake behind my place. That would be nice… she thought, watching a bird fly overhead as they reached the entrance. Well, here goes…

Shepard stepped in and found the same receptionist from before at her post, informing her that the consort was awaiting her presence. She merely nodded and led the group through lobby and up the stairs to the door. She paused momentarily and nervously clenched and unclenched her fists, calming her breathing. It's going to be fine…you're going to be fine…

She activated the door controls and stepped into the chamber, noticing the lighting hadn't changed at all. The consort stood where she had before, looking at Shepard expectantly; her eyes soon tracing over Tali, and then stopping wide-eyed on Liara.

"Little Wing! Thank the Goddess you're safe!" Sha'ira exclaimed, moving swiftly but gracefully over to the doctor and embracing her in a tight hug. Little Wing? Interesting pet name…

The consort peeked over at Shepard, arms still wrapped around Liara. "It seems I have you to thank for this fortune as well, Commander."

Shepard just averted her eyes and tried to find something in the room to focus on that was appropriate. Plants. I can focus on plants.

"Please, don't mention it." Shepard said, calmly, counting the leaves of one of the plants beside the consort's couch.

"I fear any leverage I had on you in the past is lost now, Commander." The consort continued, breaking the embrace and taking a good look at the younger asari. "Oh Liara, it is so good to see you again."

"I am…pleased to be in your grace again, Sha'ira. I hope I haven't worried you." Liara replied, drawing Shepard's attention. She seems apprehensive…maybe it's not just me…

"Hardly more than normal. The commander is very…capable." Sha'ira stated, turning her gaze to Tali. "As can be proven by the fact that you are alive, my dear. I am pleased I was able to help Commander Shepard reach you in time."

"Thank you." Tali stated gratefully, her hands clasped together in a show of gratitude.

"There is no need to thank me, I merely wish to guide those in need. I was not aware the Commander would bring company, but I am very pleased she did. What is that human expression…'the more the merrier'? Come, sit." The consort stated jovially, gesturing to the couch. Shepard took up her standard spot by the very edge of the couch, while Tali sat on the opposite portion of the L-shaped furniture.

Shepard was surprised that Liara sat next to her, leaving a comfortable yet small space between them. The consort appeared amused as she sat next to Liara. Shepard nearly sighed in relief that the doctor was a barrier between her and the consort, but felt that it would be inappropriate.

"I have been experiencing some rather baseless attacks on my reputation that have affected my business. I would ask of you only that you approach the one spreading this misinformation, and convince him to reconsider." Sha'ira explained, looking at Shepard intensely. "Judging from your abilities in the council chambers, I felt it was fitting to your expertise."

"And who would this mystery patron be?" Shepard asked, staring hard at the table in front of her as a distraction.

"I have a friend named Septimus, he is a retired turian general. I won't bore you with the details, but he wanted me to be more than I could be." Sha'ira began, her voice revealing a tinge of sadness. "We had a falling out and now he spends his days in Chora's Den drinking and spreading lies about me. He was a well known client, and his voice has damaged my reputation noticeably in just the past month. If you would speak to him, as a fellow soldier, I believe he will listen to you and let the matter be."

Shepard mulled the situation over, considering her options. Well, I'm here, so I may as well take this to kill some time. Will be interesting to see if they've patched up that filth pit since the raid. And I do still feel like I owe her…

"I won't make any promises of success, but I'll see what I can do." Shepard stated flatly.

"Thank you, Commander. That is all I can ask of you right now." The consort stated, relieved. "Appeal to his sense of honour. Remind him of his position as a general."

Sha'ira stood up and moved to Shepard's side, near the plant book-ending the couch, and grazed her hand across the commander's shoulder. "If you can convince him to stop spreading lies about me, I would be very grateful." The consort spoke, placing slightly more emphasis on the last two words.

Shepard's body may as well have burst into flames by how ludicrously hot she felt as blood rushed to her cheeks and elsewhere. "Like I said, I'll try." She said hastily, trying to focus on matters at hand instead of how grateful the consort could be. "Just set up a meeting with Tevos for later tonight. I need to talk with her, and…I'm sure Liara would like to see her."

"I shall make the proper arrangements, then. Certainly, Lady Tevos shall make time for you." Sha'ira said, her hand lightly touching Shepard's cheek. The commander's eyes darted over to look at the consort and was surprised that Sha'ira wasn't staring directly at her, but just past her. Must be deep in thought…I'm sure it takes a lot of logistics to make Tevos available.

Shepard scrambled to her feet and moved quickly toward the door. "Well, I'll be back when I've done what I can." She said, stopping at the door and looking back at a smug looking consort. "Just…yeah. Thanks for setting up the appointment. Bye."

Her feet found their way out the door in record time, and she could hear Tali and Liara struggling to catch up. She felt guilty, giving Tali that kind of exercise, but she felt an immediate need to get out of there and back to the presidium. Once out, she found the nearest railing and leaned over it, trying desperately to vanquish the storm of thoughts in her mind.

"Shepard, are you alright?" Liara asked from behind her. Shepard couldn't will herself to look at the doctor and just stared straight ahead at the artificial lake.

"Fine. Don't worry about it, I just needed some fresh air." She blurted out, sounding entirely unconvincing. "Let's just get this over with, alright?"

She waited a few moments, taking the silence as agreement. Shepard looked over to her left and saw a skycar terminal. Nope. Not the time to be shoulder to shoulder with an asari…

"Come on, let's walk."

Garrus led Ashley through the upper part of Zakera Ward toward the medical clinic. She had wanted to be helpful in some way and at the same time honour Shepard's request for her to branch out. Fat lot of good I've done about that…barely even talked to the guy so far and we've been getting supplies for an hour now.

She knew that the clinic was the same one that Tali had been treated at, and Garrus had made his preference for that clinic known by what little she had heard. The doctor had been one of his contacts at C-Sec in case criminals or victims of crimes came in. Ashley couldn't help but feel it was a smart tactic. Helps fast-track the process of catching people who deserve to be in prison, that's for sure.

"So…you visit this doctor often, Garrus? This is the one that helped you track Tali, right?" Ashley asked as they neared the clinic.

"I try to stop by here and there. Now that I'm not with C-Sec it'll be tougher, but…I'll try." He stated, stopping by the door and opening the interface of his omni-tool, waving it around the building.

"What are you doing?" she asked, curious as to why he was wandering around and slowly flailing his arm around the walls.

"Scanning for any bugs. She was one of my contacts and…some people caught onto that and would bug her clinic to try and either get the drop on me when I came by, or would try to whisk whatever victims or criminals out of the clinic before I got there." Garrus explained, closing down his omni-tool. "It's clean. Let's go see the doc."

The duo walked in and it was evident that the doctor was in a heated discussion over her comm system.

"I need those supplies for my clinic, I can't!" the doctor argued, arms crossed in front of her terminal.

"You can and you will…or your story won't stay secret for long." A rough voice spoke through the comms. "Don't disappoint me, doctor."

The doctor rubbed her face in worry and turned, freezing upon seeing her and Garrus at the door.

"Oh! Garrus…I didn't see you come in…" The doctor started, looking off toward the closed off part of her clinic nervously.

"Seems like every time I come in here, someone's threatening you. Who was that? One of Barla Von's thugs? It sounded a lot like Frizian Kephue." Garrus stated, entirely disgruntled. Ashley wondered how long the turian had been helped by the doctor, and if he had helped her in the past as well.

"No, it was…someone from my past. I can take care of it Garrus. You're not C-Sec anymore, it's alright." The doctor stated softly, seemingly hoping to reassure Garrus.

"Chloe, you can tell me. I may not be C-Sec but I know they'd stick their neck out for you after all you've done, and I work with a Spectre now. If the force won't cover me, she will, so please. Let me know what's going on." Garrus asked. Ashley couldn't tell if he was pleading or demanding by the tone of his voice, but she agreed with him. It sounded like she was being shaken down, and she felt that doctors should be free of that trouble. And he's on a first name basis? Interesting…

"Garrus…" the doctor complained, shaking her head. Ashley watched the turian walk up to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. She couldn't hear what he was saying but the doctor eventually relented.

"Look, Garrus, it…I was fired by my previous employer for giving out free medical supplies to clinics like mine." The doctor spoke. Jeez, her accent is kinda thick…is that French? "They never filed charges, they just wanted me to leave without any fuss. But somebody must have found out and now I've been getting blackmailed."

"Did anyone you used to work with have a grudge against you?" Ashley asked, speaking up for the first time.

"No, not that I remember. It doesn't matter anyway, I have to give them what they want. If the board finds out about my past, I could lose my license. They would shut the clinic down." The doctor said wearily.

"That's not going to happen, Doctor Michel. This clinic is the best one on Zakera Ward and you've helped me out too many times to get shut down by something so minor. Whatever you did in the past…it doesn't change that it was to help people." Garrus stated firmly. "Just let me know what they want, we'll get you out of this."

Ashley stood and pondered the turian's words. She broke the law, she should be arrested but…how many lives did she save doing what she did? There's right and wrong, and then there's stuff like this. Doctors swear an oath to do no harm, to help people who need it…she just did what she swore to do, but…is it right to steal in order to do it? What kind of justice should she face for following her oath more than the law? Why can't the two just go hand in hand…would make it so much easier…

The doctor moved over to her terminal and sat down. "I have to give some of my medical supplies to a merchant in the markets. They expect delivery today."

"Give me the contact's name, I'll deal with them." Garrus said, opening up his omni-tool.

"Garrus…they could expose my past if …" the doctor began, before the turian cut her off.

"They won't bother you again, I guarantee it." Garrus stated firmly. Ashley wasn't sure what the turian had planned, but she felt she would need to keep him in check.

"I…alright. I suppose the less I know, the better." The doctor mumbled. "I meet a merchant named Morlan, down in the lower markets."

"We'll sort this out, Doctor. Rest easy." Garrus noted simply, pivoting and moving toward the door. Ashley just gave a smile and wave to the doctor, not really knowing what else to do, as she turned and walked after the turian. She had to jog to catch up to the tall lanky ex-cop, who seemed to have a veritable fire in his eyes.

"We're not going to kill anyone, Vakarian. I don't think Shepard would like that all that much." She stated, falling in beside him.

"We'll do what's necessary to get whoever this is off her back, Williams." He answered, his tone clipped.

"Whatever your history with this doctor is, we need to stay within the limits of the law. I hate scumbags just as much as you do, but there's a right way to do this, and a wrong way. We need to do this the right way." She explained, drawing a skeptical look from the turian.

"The 'right way' ends up hurting innocents most of the time, letting criminals get away. Doctor Michel saves lives, she's saved my own and other C-Sec agents countless times. It's about principle here…her crime was harmless, these people…they're putting lives at risk. I can't stand idly by." Garrus reasoned passionately.

"So we won't, but we don't need to draw our guns to do it. You're former C-Sec, working with a Spectre. Use that to scare the hell out of whoever this Morlan guy is. Who's going to risk calling that bluff?" Ashley asked, drawing a nod from the turian.

"Fine, we'll start doing things your way, but if it doesn't work…" Garrus said, his voice trailing off as they reached a rapid transit terminal.

If it doesn't work, we call Shepard. I should get her on autodial on my omni…

Shepard rolled her eyes, grinning at the fact that Tali was humming the music playing in Chora's Den. The turian general had been easy to persuade, but had informed her of another unsatisfied client, Xeltan, whom he'd tricked into believing the consort betrayed his privacy and leaked information. The kind of information one keeps very secret, apparently… she thought as they made their way down the ramp back toward the ward's tunnels and markets.

The club had actually looked no worse for wear, although it had already been dingy and pockmarked with bullet holes, so it was difficult to tell if anything was fixed, or just polished. Shepard had noticed Tali had primarily gazed at the floor, while Liara kept a safe distance from her. She appreciated the thought, even if it didn't make much difference. When there's a half dozen nearly naked asari dancing rather…suggestively, I'm not really going to feel threatened by one that's fully clothed and just tagging along on the mission. But it's kind of sweet that she's trying to make sure I'm comfortable…as comfortable as I can be, considering…

The trio passed through a doorway into one of the halls leading back to the markets when Shepard heard someone curse openly out from a ways to the side of her. She turned her head, curious as to why someone had yelled that, and froze in her tracks. The fuck…

"Shepard! Fuck, they told me it was you but I didn't believe it. The bitch grew up and decided to play soldier." The man said, in disbelief, pushing himself off the wall. Shepard clenched her hands and heard her knuckles crack in anticipation. I thought he'd be in prison, or dead…

"Tali, Liara, wait here for a minute." Shepard stated calmly, walking toward the ghost of her past. "Finch, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to treat an old friend? You were a red once, don't forget that." Finch snarked, pulling out a cigarette, which Shepard quickly slapped from his hand.

"I was never a red, now tell me why you're here! You working with Cerberus again? What the hell are you here for?" Shepard demanded closing the space between them.

"Easy, sweet cheeks. None of the vids mention you running with us, but…that's an omission I'd enjoy fixing." Finch said, a slimy grin stretched across his face. Shepard paused for a moment, wondering why he was bringing her past up. "We got a guy, Curt Weisman, who was picked up by turians. Young kid, just doing good work. Arrested under some petty crime. I want you to go talk to the turian guard over in the Den and talk him out of the charges."

"And if I don't, you'll tell people I used to run with a gang, running red sand for you and doing all sorts of wonderfully illegal stuff." Shepard remarked, feeling relieved internally at the lack of mention of Cerberus. Still…never can tell…

"It's a pretty good deal, bitch." Finch noted smugly. Shepard pretended to be concerned and nodded.

"I'll have to talk to my team over there and coordinate. I'll be back in a second." Shepard noted, smiling widely as she walked back to the puzzled looking duo.

"Is there something wrong, Shepard? That man was rather…vulgar toward you." Liara asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. Just someone who shouldn't have chased me after all these years." Shepard noted, turning to Tali. "Can you overload the security feeds in the area?"

"I…I can do a ten meter radius burst. It won't be powerful, but…I think it could short out any cameras. Why do you…oh. I see…um. Hrm." Tali finished, nervously wringing her hands.

"I'm not going to kill him, if that's what you're worried about. I'd just prefer what we discuss isn't monitored for a bit." Shepard noted, ignoring the obvious concern on the asari's face next to her.

"I can…it can give you a minute. Maybe a little more, before the cameras reboot." Tali explained, opening her omni-tool.

"Perfect. Just let me know when we're good." Shepard asked as the quarian fiddled away with settings on her omni.

"Shepard, what does he want to discuss?" Liara asked, curious, her eyes darting between her and Finch.

"If I have my way, how he's sorry for what he did, and whether his gang is involved in something they shouldn't be. Otherwise, I'm not sure. He'll probably think of something." Shepard noted flatly, charging back to Finch as Tali nodded her head, a blue spark erupting from her wrist.

"You get everything sorted out with the other whor…" Finch began before Shepard's fist collided with his face. He stumbled backward into the wall and was met with a vicious knee to the midsection, folding him over. She grabbed him by the neck and threw him down a narrow alleyway, out of the sight of her crewmates.

"Are you working with Cerberus?" she asked coolly. He spat out a tooth and shook his head.

"Fuck you, bitch!" he yelled, taking a swing that went wide as he got to his feet, letting her land another knee to his ribs, the impact's audible crack resonating through the area.

"You working with Cerberus? That why you're here hassling me? I thought you had more brains than that." She growled, her left fist connecting with his head, tumbling him over.

Finch kicked out with his leg but Shepard caught it and swung him back into the wall, drawing a cry of pain from the man's lips.

"Are you working with Cerberus?" she asked politely, standing over him.

"Go to hell!" he muttered, his words complicated by the blood pooling in his mouth. She focused her biotics and gave a powerful kick to his torso, sending him into a violent coughing fit, blood spattering out with each choking breath.

As the fit subsided he looked up to her. "Fuck you…bitch. Of course…we're working with Cerberus. Never…stopped. You'll pay for this…cunt."

Shepard knelt on top of him, pulling out her knife and held his face still with one hand as he groaned from the pressure on his broken ribs. She saw his eyes bulge, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. He had admitted his guilt and he was putting her friends at risk, trying to blackmail her.

"You honestly think you could blackmail me based on my reputation when half the galaxy thinks I'm a cold-blooded, mass murdering psychopath? You're a joke." She stated playfully. Her knife came down slowly into his cheek and quickly carved its way down to his jawline. It wasn't a clean cut with the former gang leader screaming out, but it was quick and painful. She got up off his chest and walked out of the alley and calmly back to Liara and Tali, sheathing her blade.

The asari looked paler than before, and Shepard resigned herself to the fact that even if it wasn't visible, they could hear what she did and could imagine.

"Come on, let's get back to the presidium. We've got a…Xeltan…to talk to." Shepard noted calmly, walking toward one of the skycar terminals far off in the distance.

"Shepard, are you alright? Should we call help for that man?" Liara asked, edging closer to her.

"I'm fine. And he probably will be too, now that he knows he can't blackmail me or anyone else." Shepard stated matter-of-factly. "And he can't speak that way about me or my crew."

Shepard saw Liara seem to shrink away, and thought she saw some fear in the asari's eyes. Christ…leave it to me to live up to my rep when it matters most…Fuck. What's done is done. Can't say I feel an ounce of regret.

The skycar ride was silent as a tomb, and she knew she'd have to make up for what she did somehow. Not sure how though. She wondered, her mind entertaining a number of possibilities.

"Who…who was that anyway?" Tali asked nervously as they stopped out in front of the embassies. Shepard gestured to a nearby bench and sat down, feeling alright with the option Tali had presented her. The two sat close enough to her to not be awkward, but far enough to give some safe space, Liara furthest away. Well, maybe I can't keep them from being afraid, but maybe I can at least explain. Give them the facts so they can make up their own mind.

Shepard felt the scar on her cheek, tracing it with a finger. "I had just turned fourteen when I met him. He'd blown up my home and had been really angry that his gang hadn't been able to kidnap me and my sister when we escaped. I was in the hospital when he came in… my sister was beside me as always. He threatened us with slavery, with violence...rape. Said he'd sell us into child prostitution rings if we didn't do what he said." Shepard began, staring off at an interesting red-leafed tree across the path.

"We didn't listen to him, and when I was released, we took an Alliance soldier's help…Captain Anderson, in his younger days…in an attempt to get away to safety. This jerk and some other shady people managed to intercept our escape from the hospital, and my sister and I were left hiding in the streets. We were fine for a while, avoided his gang until one night we made a mistake. I was fourteen, he was probably twenty, and he decided to make an example out of me. Beat me with a pipe, and cut this…" Shepard stated, pointing to her scar. "Into my face, so I'd remember him. We were lucky to get away with our lives that night."

Shepard fought the urge to pull out her necklace and clutch it, memories of her last months with her sister flooding her mind. "He's partially to blame for a lot of terrible things, and later, when I was older, he tried to kill me again. He worked with an organization that tried to kill my friends. I thought I'd dealt with his gang when I helped the Alliance blitz them, but…I guess he must have gotten away." She said, shaking her head at the thought of other red leaders getting away as well. It wasn't a pleasant thought. "Now he comes back and tries to blackmail me, he's working with the same people who put my friends…my family's lives at risk. I couldn't let him. I had to show him I could fight back this time, that he doesn't have that kind of power. And maybe…maybe I wanted a little revenge of my own."

She sat there staring at the tree for a time, hoping that even if the two didn't agree with her actions, they could understand her. That she only did what she did for a specific reason, not because she was a loose cannon psychopath. She was trying to find more words to explain herself when she felt the sensation of Tali's three fingered hand gently hugging her shoulder, filling her with relief.

"I'm sorry, Shepard." Tali said softly. Shepard shook her head slightly.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have exposed you two to that. You shouldn't have to deal with any of my personal crap, so I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Shepard apologized quietly, looking at the two beside her. "Now we should probably finish up here, I don't want to wear you out Tali."

"I am fine, but yes, we should probably get this over with. If you need more time…" Tali began, before Shepard rustled up the quarian's head covering playfully.

"Don't worry about it, I just wanted you two to know why that happened back there." Shepard said, mock wincing as Tali lightly punched her in the arm. "Ow! If you'd believe it, I actually don't like violence at all. Yet here I am, a big bad Spectre, solving problems for weird asari oracles, hunting down some big bad turian with a robot army."

Shepard got up off the bench as Tali readjusted her head covering and glanced at her two crewmates. They look a little more at ease. Thank Christ…last thing I want is for them to feel unsafe with me.

"Well, let's see about this Xeltan…"

A/N: Second last chapter of November! Wow! If anyone told me I'd have set to release over three chapters this month I would have laughed. Yet…here we are, at #5 of the month. Unbelievable…still one more chapter to release this month, too!

So they made it to the Citadel! The next few chapters will revolve around it. Should be fun, and then they'll take off to…well, I suppose you'll have to read to find out. :P So I hope you enjoy Shep and Liara POVs because they will be happening often. :)

Anywho, thanks to everyone who's been supporting my work, leaving reviews, etc., and everyone who's just not gotten around to reading it. You're all quite fantastic! Here's hoping the rest of November will treat you well :) And here's hoping the rest of this week will treat you well!