Sha'ira's complex was at the far end of the Presidium, in an incredibly affluent area that had gorgeous views of the lakes and several parks. A human woman stood at the door, but as the group approached she smiled graciously.

"Dr. Shepard, Captain T'Soni- Sha'ira is expecting you. You may go in."

She touched a plate and the door slid open, allowing them entrance into a lobby that was more garden than waiting room. Another pair of assistants, both asari, approached them from across the room.

"Sha'ira would like only Dr. Shepard and the captain to enter her rooms," the first said to them, looking toward Feris and the senator. "The two of you are more than welcome to remain here. We have refreshments and music, and will see to your comforts while you wait."

Del could see the protest coming on her father's face, and touched his arm. "It's all right, Dad. Stay here and relax. They can probably answer any more questions you might have about asari. Try some food. We'll be back down before you know it."

Reluctantly, he agreed, kissing her cheek before following the asari toward a seating area. Sam glanced at Liara, who only gave her a nod, before following herself. The second asari smiled at Del and Liara.

"If you will follow me?"

She led them up a set of sweeping stairs, then to the end of a long hallway. The door they approached opened automatically, and they stepped into a sunlit room of rich design.

Their guide halted just within and extended a hand for them to continue on. As they passed her, she stepped out again, the door closing behind her.

The room had only one occupant, an older asari wearing an elegant and fairly scandalous dress. Del felt her cheeks heat immediately, ducking her head a little and averting her gaze as Sha'ira rose and headed toward her. The Consort glanced at Liara, apparently amused, then extended her hands, taking Shepard's and giving hers a gentle squeeze before releasing them. "Welcome, Dr. Shepard. Please, come and sit down, both of you. I have refreshments if you would like?"

As she turned back to the sitting area, Del glanced at Liara. For her part, the Spectre still seemed frustratingly neutral, but the light touch on Shepard's arm as she stepped with her after the Consort was gentle, reassuring.

Sha'ira gestured at them both to sit on a small sofa while she settled herself in a nearby chair. On a low table nearby there were various fruits and treats, and a decanter of what looked like juice. Both Del and Liara declined when she indicated it, and she nodded, then fixed her eyes on Shepard.

"Lumina has filled me in on your…unique situation. Over the course of my long life, I have helped many, of all species, to retrieve even the deepest and most hidden of memories- some incredibly guarded. I am confident I shall be able to help you as well. If the knowledge is there to be found, rest assured, I will find it."

"I am grateful for your help," Shepard said, trying not to sound nervous.

"You are concerned about the process? It will not be painful," Sha'ira said, then gave Liara a small but knowing smile before looking back at Del. "Have you not Joined before?"

Shepard immediately felt her face go hot, but forced herself to meet the Consort's eyes. "I understand this will be a bit different."

"Well, naturally," she smiled. "As we are not pursuing a romantic bonding of that nature- but it will be no more painful or unsettling than any meld you have indulged in before."

Shepard nodded, and again glanced at Liara. Sha'ira looked at the younger asari as well. "Captain T'Soni, I assure you. I will treat her with the utmost respect and care. I want only to help."

"I understand, and I trust you, Consort."

"That is not entirely true, but as you will," Sha'ira said, then leaned forward. "Doctor, all you need to do is relax. I will guide the meld and the memories. It is important you maintain a sense of peace and tranquility. Remember that what you see is only memory, no matter how real or powerful it may feel. You may even see yourself from a different vantage as you go through the memories. It is a little unbalancing but not unexpected. Don't let it alarm or concern you."

"I shall do my best, Consort."

"I think Sha'ira will suffice," she said with a soft smile. Rising from her chair she gestured to Liara. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Liara nodded, then looked at Del. "It will be all right," she said. "I will be here the entire time. I will not leave you."

"Thank you," Shepard said softly, giving the Spectre what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Liara rose, touching her hand again briefly as she did, then took the chair Sha'ira had been sitting in moments before. In return, Sha'ira seated herself on the sofa beside the human. Del caught a faint whiff of some exotic perfume as she did, and tried not to be self-conscious.

"Just relax," Sha'ira said gently. "May I call you Delilah?"

"If you wish."

"Take deep, even, slow breaths, Delilah. You are safe here, with us. There is nothing but peace surrounding you. Find the place in your mind that brings you calm, joy, and serenity. Close your eyes and picture it as clearly as you can."

Shepard nodded, breathing as instructed. She cast a final glance over to Liara before she closed her eyes, trying to imagine the perfect place.

A hill with flowing trees, edged by golden light and overlooking a serenely shifting ocean. She was sitting on the grass, looking out over the distant waves, and yet…it still was not perfect. Something was missing.

Realizing what it was, she smiled a bit, and pictured Liara sitting next to her. She wasn't in uniform, wasn't in a hard-suit. She was wearing a soft dress, her legs tucked up under her as she leaned lightly against Del's shoulder.

There. That was just right.

"Are you there, Delilah?" Sha'ira asked. Del nodded.

"Yes."

"Good. Hold to that image. That is your oasis, the centering of your soul. Hold to the peace you find there."

Shepard felt Sha'ira's hand slip into hers, and a moment later she spoke again. "Embrace eternity!"

There was a rush. Shepard felt herself picked up off that hillside and hurled forward through black, space, nothingness, stars.

Then, she was standing at the pedestal on the deck of the black ship. In front of her, an asari stood. She looked at her blankly a moment before she realized it was Sha'ira.

"This is where it started?" The Consort asked. Del nodded.

"Then we must go deeper. Put your thoughts into what you wish to know. The secrets of this ship, the secrets of the people who built her. Concentrate, Delilah, and show me the way."

A corridor seemed to appear in front of her, opening through the ship and through space itself. A light shone at the far end, bright and beautiful, rushing toward her and then consuming her.


Liara tried not to let her hands tighten on the arm of the chair, as Sha'ira sat down next to Del and began to talk to her, prompting her to relax to better facilitate the meld.

Truthfully, she was not herself entirely sure why she was so uncomfortable with this. Seeking Sha'ira's help and allowing her to meld with Del in order to find the information they needed was a most logical, rational course to take. She thought it might be some jealousy on her part, hedging at the implied intimacy of the act- but that was not quite right either.

Liara was, after all, asari. She knew the myriad and complex reasons melds could be used, and only a very tiny percentage of those had anything to do with romantic intimacy. It was as if a human had gotten angry and jealous over someone touching their love on the shoulder- while such an act could be considered intimate in the right circumstance, there were thousands of other reasons such a touch would be warranted or even expected. Only someone who was jealous to the point of insanity would find fault with such a thing.

Liara had never been in a romantic relationship before, but such a horrible level of irrational jealousy was outside of her personality. She was not perfect, of course- and she knew that some part of her was indeed slightly jealous, wishing she had enough expertise to be doing this for Del rather than relying on another- but that mild feeling did not explain this incredible worry and disquiet she had now. The same feeling of worry and disquiet she had started feeling the moment Tevos had brought up the idea.

Why am I feeling this way? Why does this terrify me? There is no reason for it. Sha'ira and I have no quarrel- we have had no dealings for a quarrel to be formed. She poses no credible threat to Shepard, and-

Her thoughts were interrupted suddenly. Shepard and Sha'ira had entered the meld and had been quiet for several moments, clasping hands. Sha'ira's gaze was black, and fixed upon Del's face. Shepard's own eyes were shut, her head turned slightly away from the Consort as if the weight of her eyes upon her were just slightly too heavy to bear. They had been completely motionless, only their soft breathing to be heard.

Then, both Sha'ira and Shepard suddenly grunted, letting out alarmed sounds at exactly the same moment, and breaking Liara of her own contemplation. Though Sha'ira's eyes remained fixed and black, the muscles in her arm suddenly tensed, and she appeared to try and break free of Shepard's grip. Shepard herself was clinging white-knuckled to the asari's hand and looked to be in pain, also trying to pull away, her eyes remaining shut.

As Liara sat forward, her gaze fell to those joined hands, and her heart grew cold- and she realized just what an incredible fool she had been.

Thin black wires, fine as hairs, were sprouting from the starburst implant on Del's wrist. They were spinning about their joined hands, spreading up the forearms of both women. As Liara leapt to her feet she could see the threads drive into Sha'ira's forearm, and the Matriarch gave another cry of pain.

She hit her omni-tool even as she lunged toward the pair. "Sam! We have a medical emergency up in the Consort's quarters, we need help immediately!"

Liara grabbed hold of the pair, but almost the moment she did, she saw the black threads shoot toward her own hand, and snatched it back. Already, Del and Sha'ira's joined grasp was lost in a tangle of black wires bound tightly over them, and the tangle continued up to nearly their elbows. Both seemed to be locked in some kind of seizure, Sha'ira now staring up at the ceiling though her eyes remained black.

Taking a chance, desperate, Liara grabbed Del by the shoulders and hauled her off the sofa. As she fell, her connection also toppled Sha'ira to the floor.

"Del! Del, you have to wake up! You have to stop it!"

The black wires were now to their shoulders, sprouting like roots up the sides of their necks. Feris ran in, the Senator and a few of Sha'ira's assistants on her heels. Liara had to release Del and recoil again, as the wires once more reached out and seemed to seek her.

"There are medics on the way!" Feris said, then gaped as she took in what was happening. "Bloody fuck!"

"'Lilah?" Jake Shepard reached out toward his daughter, only to be deflected as Liara threw up a barrier.

"No! Do not touch her, it is spreading and will seek you too."

"What's happening? What is that? 'Lilah!"

"Sam, keep him back!"

Sha'ira wailed, an instinctive sound of pure pain without rational or conscious thought behind it. Shepard yanked again, clearly desperate to release her grip- an impossible act with the amount of metal now binding each.

Sha'ira's free hand slapped against the carpet, and then suddenly lunged forward as she sat. She moved so quickly that even Liara had no time to react. Her fingers were writhing with biotic energy, and she pressed her fingers against Shepard's cheek, gripping hold of her as if she meant to bodily tear her away.

Then, both women froze, the metal strands halting their progression. Liara could hear the thunder of her own heartbeat as she stared.

Shepard was laying on the ground still, Sha'ira poised over her, clear hand pressed against her cheek, her fingers still gripping tightly. Biotic energy flowed and licked around them, cocooning them with dances of light.

They were perfectly still, performers caught in a tableau- one that could be of murder or a passionate prelude to lovemaking. Liara edged back carefully from the overwhelming static energy from the biotics.

"Merah…"

Both Sha'ira and Del suddenly spoke, completely in sync with one another. Liara could distinguish both their unique voices, but at the same time, they seemed to blend into a third that was completely foreign to her.

"Please identify."

Liara's brows knit in confusion. Behind her, she heard the medics run in, and Sam shifted as she gestured at them to hold their positions and not come any closer. Edging up to her knees, Liara quickly shifted her omni-tool to record, and aimed it at the pair.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"There is none but me. I am…alone here. This is distressing. Please identify. You are not Pio."

"My name is Liara T'soni," she said. "I am an asari. Who are you?"

"Asari does not register in our known lexicon. I am Pio…alone. I am alone. Why am I alone?"

"I want to help you, Pio, but I need more information," Liara said. "Are you in contact with anyone other than me?"

"There are two other organic minds that are here, but they are not Pio. This is distressing. I am not made to be alone. I cannot accomplish integration alone. I do not like this."

"Those two other 'organic minds' are not going to hurt you. Are they all right?"

"They are not injured. I felt them seeking, prompting integration, and woke to facilitate. I cannot do this alone. I have taken over their functions to communicate with you. I need other Pio. I am not designed to be alone. Please provide more."

"Designed…Pio, are you synthetic?"

"I am Pio."

"Yes, but are you…are you synthetic, artificial?"

"I am Pio."

Clearly, that was going to get her nowhere. She tried another tack. "You said you woke when you felt them prompting integration?"

"Yes. I woke to facilitate. I cannot do this alone."

"That is all right, Pio. I want you to listen to me carefully. Please stop trying to assist integration. You are dealing with two separate physical beings that cannot…physically integrate with each other. I need you to release them if you can."

"They are two separate…yes. I see now. There is a mistake, neither are a proper platform for integration. Releasing the foreign platform."

The metal started to retreat and unravel from Sha'ira, drawing away from her face and down her arm with more speed than it had sprouted. It fanned out a bit as it whirled around their clasped hands and wrists, then drew back.

The moment the last of it withdrew from Sha'ira, the Consort blinked. Her eyes shifted back to normal, the biotic energy died, and she gasped as if she had been drowning and desperate for air. Recoiling back, she retreated before slumping to the floor, weak and shaking. One of her assistants rushed over to her.

"Mistress?"

"Is she all right?" Liara asked.

"I am…I am well, Liara," Sha'ira replied. "Just…shaken and weak."

"Merah?"

Liara knelt at Del's side as Sam waved one of the medics toward the Consort. Shepard was still bound in the threads and motionless. When no response came, and the metal did not withdraw, Liara tried again. "Pio?"

"I have released the foreign platform. Please return me to my native platform. I need reintegration with other Pio."

Del's voice was her own, but still somewhat foreign- flat, and deep and with odd inflections.

"I understand," Liara said. "Are you able to return to…sleep? Is that what you were doing before, sleeping?"

"I am able to return to nonfunction until needed," Pio replied, sounding oddly relieved. "That would be preferred until I can be…no longer alone."

"I understand, Pio, but…before you do, I need to ask you a question or two."

Much as Liara wanted those things to go away and release Shepard, she knew this was a unique opportunity. Pio didn't seem to wish Del or Sha'ira any harm. Liara didn't know if 'Pio' was a consciousness of the species that had created the black alien technology, or if it was merely some advanced sort of AI, but chances were it had the very information they needed to obtain.

"I am here to serve."

"Pio, can you tell me who created you? Can you tell me what your mission was?"

"I am Pio," it said, sounding confused. "My mission is to integrate and interface with the gavoom heart and the brasa mind and maintain cohesion."

"You do this alone?"

"I am not supposed to be alone. There are galaxies of us. I have never been alone, but I am alone now. I do not like it. I would like to sleep now until I am no longer alone."

"I am sorry, Pio- it must be very confusing and disconcerting for you. I will allow you to sleep in just a moment, I promise. You said your mission was to integrate the…the gavoom heart and the brasa mind. Do you know what the mission of the brasa was? What they…what they intended to do with the gavoom?"

"To attempt to explain it through this organic platform would take an exponential amount of time. I do not wish to be alone for that length. I will provide the proper mission parameters to the organic platform's conscious subcenters. May I return to sleep now?"

"Her…conscious subcenters? You will put the mission information into Shepard's brain so she can recall it?"

"Yes. May I sleep now?"

"Yes, Pio. Please, give Shepard those mission specs and return to sleep. You have been most helpful."

"Good night."

The threads began to quickly withdraw from Shepard as well, retreating and unwinding and, within moments, had vanished back into the single starburst on her wrist. A moment later Del jolted, grasping out as if to catch herself from falling, even as her eyes flew open.

Liara switched off her omni-tool and caught hold of her, stroking a hand over her cheek. "Merah! It is all right, you are safe. You are ok."

"Liara?" Del stared at her in muzzy confusion, then half pushed herself up, looking at her father and the assistants, then Sha'ira still sitting up on the floor with the medic. "What…what the hell happened?"

"It is a long story. How are you feeling?"

"Weak…a bit shaky. I don't understand…did the meld work?"

"In a manner of speaking," Sam told her, as Liara helped her to sit up, the other medic coming over and starting to scan her. Liara ignored the medic, brushing Shepard's hair back from her sweat-damp cheeks before she met her eyes.

"Merah, I have reason to believe you can now remember the parameters of the black ship's mission."

"I-I don't know, my head is still kind of spinning…and…"

Slowly she trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening before brightening with tears, the color draining out of her face. Instantly concerned, Liara tightened her hold on her.

"Merah, are you ok?"

"Liara…oh, God, Liara, we have to…we…oh…"

She suddenly lurched away from both asari and medic, Liara grasping hold of her arm even as the shaking human woman bent away from her, gasped once, and then vomited.