As usual, Faith woke up just a few hours after drifting into her slumber. One of Cerberus' enhancements to her body was a reduced need for sleep, something she found a mixed blessing. The extra time was nice... if she had something to fill it. Otherwise, she tended to find the nights uncomfortably occupied by musings, reveries and regrets.

A gentle breath drew her attention, and Faith did not even try to hide the smile pulling at her lips as she looked at the asari sprawled out across the bed, lying face down with the sheet tangled around her waist.

The night had been... perfect. Liara was so gentle, always ensuring every move was one both were comfortable with. The beautiful feeling of Liara's presence inside her mind was strange at first... but when the asari had taken away her doubts and fears, showing Faith all of herself, the sensation was nothing short of magical. She had fallen asleep, body exhausted and sated, with Liara soothing her thoughts.

It was lonely, now, without her there.

The thought was troubling. The last few days with Liara had seemed like a totally different world... all that mattered was the asari, and helping her.

It was over. Liara was the Shadow Broker now. Faith would be hitting the Collectors in just a few days. They had responsibilities, that even their new found romance could not ignore.

But... as unpleasant as the thought of leaving Liara was, it also fed her strength. Her anger, at the Reapers. She had something to fight for, something so close to her heart that even the thought of losing it made her terrified, and furious.

How many others, out in the galaxy, were like her, right now? Fondly watching a lover sleep, hoping it never ended? How many billions of lives did these machines plan on tearing apart before they retreated back into the nothingness of dark space?

She would not allow it to happen. Not to her, not to those relying on her. Not to Liara.

With a final, regretful, look at the asari, she quietly removed herself from the bed and pulled on some casual clothes. She had work to do before Liara awoke.


'We should probably remove ourselves from your cabin,' I say with a sad sigh. The thought of sharing the shower had been very appealing at the time... though it had just led us right back to the bed, where we started.

Not that I wish to complain, but I felt the niggling anxiety in Faith's mind as we melded, mirroring my own. We both have important duties now; I do not know how long I can leave the Broker's... my... networks unattended before things begin to fall apart.

Faith rolls onto her back, and it takes all of my willpower not to look down her body, but even as I steadfastly stare at her face I feel the now familiar, wonderful burn flow through me. 'I suppose you're right.' she says, 'Well, I do have a few things to talk to you about...' her faces crunches up, rather adorably. 'Business-wise.'

How nice it would be, to spend the next several days up here, forgetting the worries of a galaxy.

We dress quickly, and I begin to walk towards the door when Faith takes my arm. 'Liara, wait... I know you've got important things to do but I do need to talk to you first.'

Following her lead I take a seat on the large leather sofa, and she hands me a datapad. 'This is a full report of everything I've done since I became a Spectre. No censorship, all my video logs, everything. I put it together while you were sleeping.'

I nod slightly, unsure of why she is giving it to me.

'While I'm gone... I want you to do something. Take this, and put it together with everything you and the Broker have on the Reapers. Build the package in a manner that the basics are simple to read over, and the full data is available to anybody interested.'

My throat goes dry as I anticipate her next words.

'Then I want this public. I want nobody in this damned galaxy to be able to say they don't know what the Reapers are, that there's no proof. I don't know the best way to do that: give it to journalists, put it on the extranet or send a copy to every single house in the galaxy. I'm sure you know more about that than me.'

I feel light headed at the notion. What she is asking... does she understand the repercussions?

Goddess...

I sound just like the Council!

'Faith... I will do as you wish, though it may take some time... but are you aware what doing so will lead to? This is the kind of action that could cause riots, topple governments! You will be charged with treason, at the very least!'

She looks down, before her gaze once again meets mine, the steely glare of Commander Shepard, though the hands that reach out and grasp mine are gentle. 'I know, Liara. But I'm sick of nobody paying attention. For the first time, we've got the knowledge, and the resources to go around the people trying to cover this thing up. Maybe it won't do anything for a while, but the pressure will be there, and when the Reapers do show up, they can't just hide behind the political crap. The whole galaxy will know we warned them... and they didn't listen. They will have to follow us. But I... I also know this will put you in danger. We both know the stakes. I'll protect us both as best I can, but...'

I will not let her think that way. I squeeze her hands.

'I am not the helpless scientist you rescued from that volcano any more.'

She smiled a bit 'I know, but the fallout from this will be immense. Rather than tackle the issue, governments are going to come after us. I want us to face this together.' She looks deep into my eyes, imploring. 'You told me... that day at your apartment, that I don't have to do this alone any more. Neither do you. I'm here for you, and once I've got this mess with the Collectors sorted, I'm coming back for us. I'm not good for much, but I know how to fight. And I'll fight for us. Until the galaxy gets its act together and realises we're the ones they should be listening to.'

Us. The thought is wonderful, still sending fresh bursts of adrenaline every time I think of it. Faith is right. We will fight for this, together. With strengthened resolve, I nod. 'I will prepare it as you ask. But I will wait for your return to launch everything. We are in this, as one.'

She breaks our gaze, looking uncomfortable, and I know what is coming. I wish it were otherwise... but I am a scientist, not an idealist. 'If I don't make it-'

The thought terrifies me. To have come so far... to lose this, just as we are finally beginning to build something, I do not know if I could handle such a loss.

'I will do it anyway.' I tell the truth, but I do not know what I would do after releasing the information.

I suppress a shudder. I cannot afford to think that way. Faith is the most capable soldier I have ever known... and when she fights, one would be forgiven for thinking her a mighty heroine of legend.

'Thank you,' she says quietly, and catches my eyes again, her deep brown gaze boring into mine. 'I've... never really had something to come back to before, Liara.' she leans over and kisses me softly, sending sparks dancing across my face, before sitting back and smiling openly, clearing the melancholy mood. 'And now I do.'

'And what is that, if I may ask?' I tease softly, just wanting to hear the words... it is perhaps unbecoming to ask such a thing, but at this point I just do not care.

'Us. And whatever future we can make for ourselves.'

'That-' Goddess... she says the words so casually, but the thought of us both, actually having a life together, sends my heart racing. I swallow to clear the lump in my throat. 'Sounds like a powerful incentive to return.'

'The Collectors won't know what hit them.'

Again she speaks casually... but the fire in her eyes sends a chill down my spine.


'Again!' The voice called from down the hangar, and Garrus raised a standard issue M-8 Avenger; a lighter gun than he usually preferred, but they were working from the bottom up.

An orange glow lit the far end of the bay, and he immediately opened up with single shots, causing the light to flare up. The glow grew closer, and he narrowed his vision, changing the firing mode to burst, squeezing the trigger faster. Still the pale orange sheet advanced, slowly but relentlessly, until it was just yards ahead of him. He finally held down the trigger, spraying with a full automatic wall of bullets, until the weapon suddenly hissed, and let out a loud warning beep alerting him that the heat sink was at capacity.

The omni-shield lowered, hanging loosely at its bearer's side, and Shepard reached up with her other arm to pull the helmet from her head. 'Not even half depleted. And I bet I can have Tali tweak the power draw so I've got half a dozen charges. This tech Liara took from the Broker is amazing, Garrus. I'm thinking about having it replicated and giving one to everybody.'

The turian shook his head, flaring his mandibles in amusement. 'Most of us aren't quite as suicidal as you, Shepard. We prefer to take cover behind nice, sturdy, things, like walls. We don't all have reinforced skeletons to take the impact.'

'Heh... I suppose you're right. Anyway, I bet that would take ages. I've never seen anything like it before; nobody would know how to copy it. I'm going to find the schematics to send to the Alliance when we're done with the Collectors though; if they properly train their operatives with something like this, it could save a lot of lives.'

Her words brought a query that was on the mind of every crew member to his tongue. 'Speaking of... we're all ready to go, Shepard. For a couple of days now, we've been sitting around waiting. When are we going to get this thing done?'

She glanced around the hangar bay. Most of the ground crew were in here, either checking weapons for the tiniest flaw, practicing their biotics, or just talking quietly, preparing themselves for what was to come.

'Tomorrow. I've had some things to discuss with Liara-' she looked back at the turian, seeing his expression. 'Really! And we've been putting something together for the crew. I was going to keep it a surprise, but you're right, I've left everybody in the dark too long.' She called out softly. 'EDI, patch me into ship wide comms.'

Without further warning, she hauled herself onto one of the enormous air recyclers, and called out in a parade ground voice. 'This is Commander Shepard.' Garrus did not fail to notice how she addressed herself, the military term she had, for so long, tried to drop from her personality. 'Tomorrow we will transit to the Omega system, perform final checks, and go through the Omega Four relay.'

She paused, letting the news sink in. 'This ship is manned by the best the galaxy has to offer, and everybody here, is here because they want to be. We're going to show the Collectors, and the Reapers, why they can not take us, like they did the Protheans and countless others.

'But today, Doctor T'Soni and I have put together a thank you, for everybody's work so far. Starting at 1700, shuttles will be taking anybody who wants to go, down to the Shadow Broker's ship, where we discovered the galaxy's most expensive booze cabinet!' Several voices around the hangar bay started chuckling, Garrus' own included. 'We will go down to that ship, we will have fun, and we will not leave one bottle untouched!'

Shepard hopped down from the crate, with a smile plastered across her face. The turian could not help but tease.

'You know, you make better speeches when you're sending people into battle, than to a party.'

'Yeah yeah, but give me a break, I've never organised a party before.'

'On one condition.'

'Name it.'

'There's dextro booze, right?'

Shepard gave a small grin. 'Don't worry Garrus, there's plenty. And it's all for you... and Tali.'

Noticing the inflection in her voice, and suddenly feeling uncomfortable, he turned his back and walked over to the pile of weapons they had gathered to test the shield, pulling out the Collector weapons they had picked up along their way.

'You know Shepard, I've got the sudden urge to shoot you again.'


'So, the fuck aren't you at Shepard's party? Aren't you two war buddies or somethin'?'

Joker looked up from his cards at the tattooed biotic across the crate they were using as a table. Zaeed, the grizzled mercenary sat to his right, and the space to the left had seen a rotation of the Cerberus operations staff, who had been unable to take much time from their duties as EDI was at capacity analysing and installing the Reaper IFF. They were sitting in the hole Jack lived in, with some quiet, crappy music playing through an ancient stereo Zaeed had dug up somewhere.

He took a long draw from the warming beer in front of him, gesturing for Zaeed to pass him another. 'Loud music, forced conversation and fruity drinks? No thanks.' he muttered in response, pushing a few of the tokens they were using to represent credits into the centre of the table.

Jeff knew he should probably be there. But... tomorrow he was flying this sorry bunch into the unknown, probably to their collective deaths. He'd rather spend his last night with a couple of beers, listening to the hum of his baby under his feet, than pretending to be something he wasn't.

'Were you ever a military man, Zaeed?' he asked the merc as a heavily muscled arm handed a bottle his way.

'Ha! Been in plenty of militaries, son. You've probably never heard of most of 'em. Got "dishonourably discharged" from the only legit one, for excessive force, or disobeying orders, or whatever shit they called it. I killed the bastard they wanted me to bring in. Decided one fewer batarian scumbag in the galaxy was a good thing.' He shook his head. 'I've seen Shepard's history. Murder one batarian they boot you out, murder a few hundred and they give you a damned medal.'

'What, the girl scout?' Jack spoke up, sounding interested. Joker knew Shepard's reputation; everyone in the Alliance did. But it never seemed to fit with the person he knew. Sure, she could be cold, and she made some pretty... shady... decisions, but he could never imagine her doing something so bloodthirsty.

'Yeah, they say on Torfan she had a load of the slaving fuckers surrender to her. She just gunned 'em down, and her squad joined in. 't's why they didn't boot her ass out, they couldn't just get rid of a load of soldiers half the people in the colonies were callin' heroes.'

'Damn... didn't know she had it in her.' muttered the convict, chewing on one of Zaeed's cigars. She hadn't even lit it. 'What 'bout you, old man? Why're you slummin' down here?'

'Same as this guy.' he replied, jerking a thumb towards Joker. 'I'd rather not spend my last night watchin' Shepard and her new squeeze make eyes at each other.'

'You don't think we're coming back?' asked Joker.

'No goddam idea.'

'I thought you were in this for the money.'

'Nah. There's always creds and-

The ship lurched to the side, sending chips, beer bottles and several smaller crates flying.

Emergency!

EDI's voice filled the room, filled the whole ship. Joker immediately stood up, wincing as he felt the familiar stinging pain shoot throughout his body. Zaeed was on his feet as well, brandishing the assault rifle he always kept at his side, and Jack lit up biotics.

We are under attack. All hands to repel enemy forces.

'Shit!' The three of them called out, too distracted to care they had spoken in unison. Unsure of what to do, they stayed where they were, ready to beat back any invaders.

Jeff, the Collectors have blocked my systems. They are preparing to board.

Shit shit shit! The Collectors! What the hell is she telling me for?

Emergency protocols active. Restricted functions unlocked. Jeff... give me control of the ship.

'Oh, no way, that's just-'

Jeff... please.

All three looked slightly startled at the emotion in the artificial voice.

The alternative is my inability to defend the vessel. Other crew members are engaging Collectors as we speak. They are on board.

'Umm... what do you need me to do?' he ventured.

The main corridors are occupied, all remaining power and functionality diverted to locking doors to your location.

'Dammit EDI, what do you need me to do?'

EDI's hub in the corner of the room lit up.

Please access my terminal.

Joker hobbled over, and a keypad appeared in front of him.

Enter your security code, this will release my full functionality.

'That's it?'

You are the ranking officer on board, I need your authorisation.

He took one final look at the pair of fighters, who offered little more than a shrug in return.

Shit... the buck stops here, Flight Lieutenant.

He heard a loud, horrible, insect-like noise, and Zaeed's gun roared to life, sending a foul creature tumbling down the starboard stairwell.

'Damn it, you start singing "Daisy Bell" and I'm crashing you into The Illusive Man's house.'

He entered his passcode, and suddenly the lights dimmed, before returning to full glow.

I have control. Manual restart of engine systems required.

He looked up with a growl, as the air began to whump with Jack's biotics.

'Shit... I need you two to clear a path.'

Jack scowled at him, and he thought for a moment she was about to disobey... when Zaeed's voice, full of a command he recognised from the harshest ranking officers he had ever had, snapped both of their attention. 'Jack, keep a damned barrier up, I'll shoot the fucks.' His head spun to Joker, who had to resist flinching at the fire in his good eye contrasting against the milky paleness of the other. 'You, stay close.'

They slowly mounted the port staircase; the Collectors were attacking from the other side. Zaeed's gun spat a constant stream of bullets at the wave of foes, the return fire bouncing harmlessly from the soft blue bubble surrounding them.

With Joker constantly muttering curses about his damned disability, the trio finally reached the engine room.

You can restart from any station. Warning: I have removed most Collectors from the ship, but several remain on this deck, and their weapons have compromised any possibility of replicating the action without your demises. Addendum: My bulkheads will not hold against their heavy weapons for long enough to enact the restart.

'Aww, shit.' Zaeed let out a sigh. 'Get it done. I'll slow the bastards.'

'But-'

'Just do it!' he ratcheted a new heat sink into his gun, and strode from the doors. 'Looks like I'll get what I want a couple of days early. Machine, open the port-side door so they all come to me.'

Joker shot the merc a final glance, before the ship shuddered again, and the door to the engine room slammed shut. He quickly hobbled over to the terminal and began tapping the necessary sequences to restart the engines, codes he drilled into his mind again and again.

People think flying a ship is all about playing with a steering wheel...

He was barely aware of Jack, striding backwards and forwards across the room behind him, flaring with biotics, muttering under her breath. 'The fuck was he thinking? Dumb bastard's going to get himself killed, leave me alone with this pussy...'

With a final tap of the "enter" key, the engines stopped their gentle hum, before immediately beginning to wind up again.

There was intermittent gunfire and thumps from the corridor outside, and Joker felt absolutely helpless.

'What's going on, EDI?'

I opened the airlocks on all other decks, removing the Collectors. Operative Massani is currently engaging the remaining foes.

'You what?! What about the crew?'

The Collectors killed several, and abducted the rest.

'How did they even find us? Sneak up on us?' A dark realisation swept over him. 'Shit, is Shepard ok?'

The Reaper IFF had a hidden virus which I have now purged. The Collectors were unaware of the Shadow Broker's ship. I have sent a warning to Shepard and the others.

'Shit... and now I've unshackled the AI... Shepard's going to kill me!'

'Can you shut up for a second?' Jack snapped. 'The shooting's stopped.'

Operative Massani... Zaeed... eliminated the last of the Collectors. The Collector ship has retreated and is approaching the system's Mass Relay.

'Well what are you waiting for? Open the door!'

'Dammit EDI, what?'

Zaeed... suffered fatal injuries and expired shortly after the last Collector.

'No!' Joker started at Jack's cry, surprised as she slumped her shoulders. He'd only seen the convict half a dozen times, much less spoken to her, but from what he gathered, she didn't give a shit about anybody else.

Shepard's influence, no doubt...

'Damn...' He took a deep breath. He was useless at this kind of thing, doubly so when he was talking to a mentally unstable woman who could turn him into paste. 'Sorry, Jack.'

Her face twisted into a snarl, and Joker hopped backwards as a biotic-wreathed fist slammed into the wall, leaving a sizeable dent.

'Shit, Jack! What the hell!'

Her dark gaze fixed his.

'Tell me when we arrive. I'm going to tear the fucking Collectors apart.'

With that, she slapped the bulkhead open, and disappeared with a growl that Joker could only describe as animalistic.

Shepard is on her way up with most of the ground crew.

Joker grimaced. They had been boarded by the things they were supposed to be hunting. Most of the Cerberus crew was lost, Zaeed was dead, and he'd unshackled an AI, all as he was half drunk while in command of the vessel. He was in deep shit.


A/N: Thank you Jay8008 for beta reading.

All feedback, in particular on the first person section, is greatly appreciated :-)