"By the goddess." Liara breathed. The room was filled will the soft blue light as the images pulsed on the wall. Mali stared in shock at the evidence, her eyes bugged out of her head. She was a biotic? Were they crazy?"

"Could you have made some mistake?" Admiral Dickens asked, a bit stunned.

"No. I re-did it three times. Mali's nodule ratio is perfectly balanced; basically, her entire skin is made up of eezo. It looks like the eezo not only has nodules, but has spread and attached itself to the connecting skin between each and molded with the skin, making it eezo as well. It is absolutely extraordinary! There has never been someone like this before!" The doctor waved his hands with excitement; Mali sat on the table, feeling her gut twist. Her, powerful?

"How did this happen?" Liara asked.

"I don't know, but from my research it would have had to start even before conception, her mother must have had to be exposed to drastic amounts during pregnancy. However it happened I guarantee it was dangerous for both, and Somali is lucky to be alive."

"If we put a chip in her, how powerful could she be?" Dickens asked. Mali gulped, suddenly she felt as if eyes were watching her back. She twisted, but there was only a wall and counter behind her.

"I don't know, I would have to study her and make calculations, but I know without a doubt she could be the most powerful biotic in the history of the galaxy. Nothing like this has ever happened before." The doctor took his seat again; Liara was bent forward, her arms resting on her thighs, thinking and Admiral Dickens sat stiffly, with his back straight, rigid as a board.

"If she is so powerful, why can't she use her powers without an amplifier?" Liara asked.

"Quite probably because she has never known about it; look at her face." They all turned. Mali was white as a sheet and breathing fast. Her eyes darted back and forth, never resting on one object for long.

"I need some air." Mali rushed from her seat so fast no one had a chance to react, and she was out the door before anyone could stop her. She rushed from the examination ward to the lobby and out the front doors. On the steps outside, Mali bent over, taking huge gulps of air into her lungs, the hospital smell choking her. Her stomach heaved in a great lurch into her gut, nervous shudders raked her frame. Mali closed her eyes, breathing out of her mouth—just concentrating on getting through second. She could not believe it—that she was a biotic. Where did she come from, what had happened to her?

Mali stood up and made her way to a bench on the side of the steps. She leaned her head back and filled her nostrils with sweet, untainted air. Yane had told her once that she was not all that she seemed. At the time she had found it a cliché way of complementing a girl—but now she knew different. The memory came back in the bitter-sweet rhythm of her heart.

Mali wrapped her hands in tape, and began to punch away at a leather bag filled with foam and padding. Sweat dripped down her back and made her faded pink shirt stick to her like glue. Her feet were planted far apart, and strained with the support behind her punches; her abdomen and torso working in rhythm as she dodged back and forth from imaginary punches. She heard the door open and close behind her, but she didn't look. She didn't want to talk. Yane sighed and sat down on their small bench, he ran his hands through his shaggy hair. "Mali, I'm sorry. It's just too dangerous, I can't take you with me. You could get hurt, you could die. I don't want that to happen; you just have to trust me." He said. Mali stopped her punches and gripped the bag so it no longer swung. By her rigid stance, Yane could tell she wasn't happy. Mali turned vehemently around and glared at him.

"Than what's the point of all this training you make me do? If I can't go with you on your raids than why? There is no purpose!" She stalked over so she loomed over him, "You tell me I'm good, you say I'm the best you've ever seen, so why do you hold me back? I'm ready!" He sighed again and tugged on her hand; bringing her down so she was now eyelevel.

"You're not all you seem, Mali. Someday you might need this, and I might need you. Raids are too frivolous to waste your time on them, you were made for greater things."

Back in the hospital room, Admiral Dickens was shaking his head with disbelief. "This girl just gets more and more complicated." He said. "She pops up out of nowhere and kills someone, and then gets attacked by a reaper ship whom we thought were extinct, and now is the most powerful biotic in the world. Who is she?" He asked himself. The doctor butted in.

"Sir, if you want me to implant an amplifier I can do so, she is at the peak stage for such an operation."

"If I do this, we will have the most powerful biotic on our hands that we have ever seen. We cannot trust her nor do we know if she is stable, but if we don't, then will have wasted this opportunity and will have passed up on the greatest soldier of all time." He was silent for a time—the doctor leaning over him in apprehension, Liara carefully neutral in her stance. "Withhold for now doctor," he finally spoke, "I need to talk to the board about this before I make any final decisions." He paused, then asked, "Was there anything else in her medical examination that we should know about?" The doctor walked over to the screen that glowed blue and swiped the analysis off the screen, only to bring up Mali's file.

"Nothing that I deem super important, but this may help you later." He brought up a 3D image of a human girl, the file pushed up and off to the side. "She has superior muscle reflexes and strength, as well as the best hand-eye coordination I've ever seen, if I didn't know better I would have thought she was engineered somehow—I've never seen a human in better shape. Besides this her skin is made up of 20% scar tissue, like she has been through hell and back, the longest patch being a knife scar on her left side and some burn scars on her back. I have never seen so many on a person, it looks like she's been through a war."

Liara's mouth was hanging open. "Could you remove the scar tissue, if she wanted?" Dickens asked.

"Yes, but only with her assent." The doctor answered. "It's her body, only she has the right to it."

"Alright, I'm scheduling Somali another appointment in three days, where I will give my decision about the amplifier." Dickens stood up and Liara followed suite. "Thank you for your time doctor." They both stepped outside the room, Dickens closing the door behind him. "This complicates things, with her case and everything else. Just watch her carefully Liara, and watch out for yourself. We don't know who she is or what she's capable of." Liara nodded and they separated. She weaved through the halls till she was out of the examination ward till she was out in the lobby, then she saw Mali sitting on the bench through the glass doors. She went out and plopped down next to her.

For a long time Mali just watched people go in and out of the hospital: doctors, nurses, families, asari, humans; they were all just people, doing their jobs, and getting through the day. "Do they ever wonder what their lives mean?" Mali asked quietly. Liara leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest, her right ankle resting on her left knee.

"What do you mean?" She asked in her melodious voice. Mali didn't look at her, but continued to watch the people.

"I mean, don't they know the preciousness of life? Most take it for granted." Mali saw a janitor in blue coveralls scowl and make his way toward a garbage can inside the building, pushing his cart in front of him. "Take that guy for example," Mali pointed him out, "he goes to a job that he doesn't like every day, and then goes home unfulfilled from a boring day at work. You only have one life to live, and he chooses to waste his time doing things he hates. He should just quit his job and get on with his life; find something that he enjoys doing." Liara lifted an eyebrow.

"You are very thoughtful Mali, but I'm not quite sure what this has to do with you." She answered.

"It doesn't. " Mali answered, "It's just something I've always noticed about people." Liara was quietly smiling, she had never met a more Gandhi-like teenager in all her life.

"How do you feel about being a biotic?" Liara asked. Mali's teeth clenched momentarily.

"I don't know, everything is just so confusing right now. I don't even really know what a biotic is."

"That is understandable, I would feel the same way if I was you. If they let you be one, I will train and I'll teach you." Liara smiled. "You know that you can talk to me whenever you want, ok? I'm here for you." Mali looked away. Inside, she was shocked at Liara's kindness, no one had ever said that to her.

"Thanks." Mali said.

"I have one more question."

"Shoot." Mali said.

"Doctor Tracy said that you are made up of 20% scar tissue, can I ask why that is?" Mali frowned slightly.

"Was it my scan that showed it?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, but he said he knew about it before. Dr. Tracy was the one who patched you up after the reaper attack. He said it looked like burns and maybe lacerations?" Mali instinctively reached back and softly touched her back, where she knew they were.

"It doesn't matter where they came from, it's in the past." Mali finally said. Liara looked at Mali in a strange way. "What?" Mali asked.

"You never cease to amaze me." Was all she said.

Mali changed the subject. "What do you teach at the academy?" Liara got up from the bench.

"Speaking of the academy, I need to get you there. Why don't you go get dressed, and then we will talk on the way."

"Ok." Mali said, standing up. She went inside and reclaimed her belongings, then went back out as she finished pulling on her clothes. She was glad to leave the nasty hospital smell behind, and once again embrace the sweet outside air. Liara was waiting for her at the bench, and got up when she came back out. They walked side by side down the boulevard, the sun was starting to sink into the horizon and the air was steadily becoming colder.

"I used to be an archeologist, so when the N7 academy offered me a job teaching they gave me history. And since I am the best biotic they have, they also have me teach biotics to any human student that possess them."

"Not to be rude," Mali asked, "but why would the N7 program ask you to teach at their school? I thought that it could only be humans, since it is part of Earth's military." Liara was silent for a bit then answered.

"I want to be truthful with you Mali, so I won't lie to you like I do to other students who ask me this question, but you must promise not to tell any others and to not freak out." Mali looked at her quizzically as they walked, trying to keep up with her longer stride. Something about how she walked tugged at Mali's brain, but she couldn't get a hand on it. All she knew was that Liara was the most graceful being she had ever seen. Mali smiled and laughed a bit.

"Why would I freak out?" She asked, curious.

"The reason they trust me in the human military is because I served under Commander Shepard on the Normandy during the reaper war." Mali stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open. She hadn't believed that this woman could even hurt a fly and then here she was telling her she had served under the greatest human in all history during a war that killed more life than any other in existence.

"You served under Commander Shepard, the hero of the galaxy?!" It all came back to her then, the name, and the face. That was what had been tugging at her brain, because she had seen this lady before, on a big screen in a market square, during footage captured during the war, with her gun flashing and biotics blazing. "Wow, I can't believe it! I've seen you on TV before, while they were showing war footage taken at the front! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh I can't believe it! You are a real hero!" Mali was so caught up in her excitement she didn't see Liara rolling her eyes. Mali practically danced with excitement as they continued to the hover car, she sprang with each step. "All this time, I can't believe it!" Wow! I was at your house! And I'm wearing your clothes! Wow! I can't believe it!"

They climbed the stairs leading to the parking garage next to the council building, the whole time Mali went on and on until Liara couldn't take it anymore. "Ok, ok enough! I get it!" Mali subsided as they got into the car, but she was still smiling from ear to ear and she bounced up and down in her seat. She looked at Liara with huge, admiring eyes. "I shouldn't have told you, you obviously can't take it." Liara said, starting up the engine and ignoring the huge eyes. With effort Mali settled down, but she couldn't help but let a little awe show. Liara lifted the craft and they skimmed over the glowing city, the white alienite shining a rosy pink in the setting sun.

"Sorry, uh, Liara... I can't believe I can call you by your first name!" Mali got all excited again. Liara gripped the steering wheel until Mali thought she might tear it off. "Ok! Ok! Sorry, sorry! It's just not every day you meet a celebrity. Now I know what was going on in the hospital between you and the doctor." Liara looked over at Mali with a condemning glance.

"What are you talking about? There was nothing going on." She denied, but Mali saw her cheeks blush.

"What's wrong? You can't handle a little fandom?" Mali teased, "Because that doctor was givin' you a lot." Mali mimicked his voice, "I find biotics fascinating." She wiggled her eyebrows. Liara blushed even more and playfully hit Mali's shoulder.

"Enough already!" Mali started laughing and soon she had Liara laughing right along with her. They flew in silence for a while, Mali looking out her window at the passing landscape below and Liara maneuvering through traffic. Mali thought of the past weeks, unable to believe how far she had come. She closed her eyes and imagined the streets of her city flashing by beneath her; she had never believed that she loved New Chicago, but she was surprised to find that she missed it. She pulled out her lucky credit chit from her pocket and ran her thumb over its surface, feeling the familiar grooves of the credit's designs. It was all she had left of her past now that Yane's pistol had been taken from her.

The vehicle slowed and Mali opened her eyes again and looked out the window at the buildings below. A wall separated an inner enclosure from the rest of the city, running in a square easily fifteen miles on every side. The wall itself was thick and sturdy, made out of a mixture of alienite and steal with turrets and a few watchtowers. Within the compound where four main buildings that rose up about four of five stories tall. Each was concrete with many glass windows, and all rose gracefully into the sky. Besides the four buildings, which were grouped in a large square around a large fountain. The rest of the campus was miles and miles of grassy hills and forest with many paths running like veins through it. Liara looked over at Mali, "welcome to your new home." Mali frowned at the wall.

"It looks more like a prison than a school." Mali said, eyeing the wall.

"Its ok," Liara reassured, 'it looks more intimidating than it is. This place isn't just a school, the military also uses it to study scientific anomalies such as biotics, which is one of the reasons why it is based here on Thessia instead of Earth. The wall there is to control the temperature and humidity inside the campus (as best as they can) for scientists to experiment. You can't see it but there is a mass effect dome connected to the wall to try and keep out unwanted weather; that's the only reason why there is a wall."

"Then why are there cannons on the wall?" Mali pointedly asked.

"I'm sure they serve a purpose too." Liara said, her voice a little strained.

"Don't always believe everything your told." Mali warned, "That's a lesson I've had to learn over and over again." She thought of Yane, and his desperate lie to save her. "Even those you care about most, you should never trust them completely." The hover car was still hovering over the enclosure; Liara pushed it forward and down, in a sort of circling decent.

"That seems like a lonely way to live—never having anyone close to you." She commented.

"Better to be lonely than dead or hurt." Mali answered back.

"But to never have any friends or family; No one to support you or care for you or love you. Could you live like that?" Liara asked.

"I already am." Mali answered. "I don't come from where you come from, where you know who you are and have people to look out for you." Mali's voice grew angry, "I have never had a family, I grew up an orphan, and anyone that I have ever let get close to me has always betrayed me. So sorry if I have some trust issues." She finished. The hover car was now level with the wall and they approached a gate. There was a small guardhouse on the left and as Liara pulled up a human male got up out of his seat and came to the window. He wore a black fatigues and had a rifle stung onto his back.

"May I see your identification please?" He asked. Mali watched as Liara reached under her coat and pulled out a small keycard that was on a lanyard around her neck. She handed it over to him. He quickly scanned it over his omni-tool and handed it back. "Thank you, Dr. T'soni. You may continue." He pressed a button on his omni-tool and the gate in front of them opened, allowing them to pass through. As they swept through Mali watched the top of the wall, and saw a slight shimmer as they went from outside the wall to the inside. So there was a mass effect field around the top, Mali thought.

"Mali, I didn't mean anything by what I said. I don't know what you've been through, or anything about your past history. I just think that no one should live without having someone to be close with. Living beings are social creatures, especially humans. I just think it might hurt you more than you think to choose to live your life alone."

"I'm used to it." Mali said. Inside, she wasn't so sure. Most of the time she did feel lonely and she knew that she did wish for a friend. I have Vic, Mali thought, and its better that I am alone. Less people will get hurt, including myself. Liara touched down onto the pavement in front of the big square with the fountain. She powered the engine down and turned in her seat to look at Mali.

"Although I do not find your decision wise, I admit that it is your decision. But I hope that you will try to make some friends while you are here." Liara told her.

"Thank you so much, for everything, these past few days have been some of the best I've ever had." Mali thanked her. She gathered her stuff and unclipped her seatbelt, then paused and looked at Liara one last time. "I hope to see you on the campus sometime." Liara smiled

"I hope so too." Two men came out of the closest building, the one on the left, and walked over to straddle each side of the passenger door. They were both huge and well-muscled, wearing black suits and shoes, with sunglasses over their eyes.

"Are you here for me?" Mali looked up at them. Liara didn't like how the two big men loomed over her, but she had no choice but to remain silent; it was the agreement.

"You are Somali Avon?" One asked, not unkind, but not nice either.

"Yes." She said.

"Let's go, we have a lot to do today." The man replied. Mali got up out of the hover car, but before closing the door she leaned down and smiled one last time at the asari.

"Thank you." Liara nodded and Mali shut the door. Without looking back Mali followed the man in front of her. Her chest felt strangely constricted as she walked away, like she couldn't breathe. Mali sucked in air but the knot did not loosen. Her eyes burned to look behind her, but Mali kept them forward. She couldn't rely on the asari anymore, she was on her own now. Liara watched until Mali disappeared with the guards into the building they had come out of, and then with a sigh she turned the engine back on.

I

That night Liara sat, reclining on her sofa, the house dark around her. She listened to the waves that pounded beneath her; her food sat untouched, steaming on the small table in front of her. While she had been away the Admiral had been kind enough to send a clean-up crew to her house to deal with and replace the bullet riddled furniture, cleaning up as well. It was one of the perks of working for the military, Liara thought. The asari got up and went into her study, but her work didn't welcome her as it usually did; it felt strangely empty and uncaring, the prothean artifacts no longer whispered their mystique invitingly. She thought about going for a swim, but dismissed that thought almost as immediately as it came; there was just no curing her restlessness. She would not deny that she was anxious for Mali, about her first day tomorrow. Liara had her class all planned out for the first day, and she wondered if Mali would be in it, but she doubted it. The Admiral would probably fill her schedule with things he deemed more 'important,' like training and gun fighting. She knew that he wouldn't skip out on the immense opportunity that Mali presented for him. He was a soldier, not a human rights activist.

Sighing, Liara sat back down on her couch and turned on her omni-tool. She might as well look at those discussions that the Admiral had given to her, she had nothing better to do. A list popped up in front of her, there were three entries. She pressed the top one and a female voice that was not Mali's filled the air. "I knew your omni-tool was only self-activating!" Liara heard a rustling sound and then Mali's voice, alarmed and angry filled the air; Liara closed her eyes and listened.

"Let me go! I thought you were asleep."

"If you don't remember, I'm a trained cop! And you are just like, sixteen; I think I can outsmart you when I want to." The female voice was prideful and teasing. "Besides, I took drama in high school." There was a long pause and more rustling, Liara heard Mali mumble something about cuffs. A bed creaked. "I don't get you, Mali. Why did you do it? You are like no one I have ever met…no criminal record, no DNA analysis, you come out of nowhere. And then you show that you have had high training in combat, but lack basic skills like working with technology? It just amazes me to no end-a girl who doesn't hesitate to kill thirty men-yet cries over seeing a tree? How did you get your training? Why did you submit yourself-knowingly- to a possible lifetime sentence in prison, with so much life ahead of you? What drove you to use such extremes?" There was a long pause, Liara held her breath. Then there was a mad scuffling sound. "Are you ok? You look like you're gonna hurl." Liara heard pounding as feet ran away, and a rustle as the woman got up. "Somali! Come back! You better not be planning to escape the ship, because you can't! That's just stupid!" There was the swish of a door, and a few seconds of rustling and walking, than the comm was shut off.

Liara pressed the second button, and the room was filled with men yelling. She bolted upright with alarm, and then realized the men voices were coming from her omni-tool. They were cheering. Liara sat back down. "Mali! Mali! Mali!" the men hooted. There was a lot of clapping and then a swoosh of a door as the woman exited.

"That was amazing! You took down that guy in less than a minute!" The woman exclaimed.

"Thanks." Mali's voice came through clear and strong.

"Where did you learn all those moves? It was incredible." There was a long pause; Liara could only hear breathing and the sound of feet walking.

"I had the best trainer." Mali finally answered. "His name was Yane. He taught me everything I know." Liara quickly got up and ran into her study, finding a datapad, she quickly started to type what she had just heard, she continued to listen intently.

"There, that wasn't so hard." The woman sounded like she was smiling. "You don't always have to be mysterious, you know. Everyone has secrets."

"I have more than most." Mali answered. She sounded calm, but guarded. "You don't know what it was like living in the lower levels. It was a nightmare to grow up in. Everyone there is either a thief or a murderer, and all are after the wallet in your pocket." The sound of feet stopped, and a door opened.

"Which one are you?" the woman asked quietly. Liara heard them sit down, and there was a scrape and rustle; she wished she had video so she could see what was going on.

"A long time ago I was a thief, and now you say I have committed murder, so I guess to the world I am both. But to me, I am just a thief." There was a snap as something was opened.

"Let's take care of that cut." The woman said. Liara was surprised to hear a little bit of affection in her voice, if she wasn't wrong, this woman was supposed to be Mali's restraining officer, but she sounded more like a concerned friend. There was a dabbing sound, and Liara guessed Mali was being taken care of. "Why do you keep saying that you didn't murder Finnick? When you broke into his house and killed him in cold blood?" The woman cut straight to the heart of it. The dabbing stopped; there was a long pause and a sob.

"I wish you would stop asking me that." Mali's voice was soft and hurt, filled with pain. "It brings back bad memories."

"I'm sorry Mali. But I want to know. You are not a killer, I can see that, so why? I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help! I'm not weak!" Mali burst out.

"I never said you were, Mali…I think you are a strong young woman. That black and blue spaceman back there is evidence. Is that something that Yane, your trainer, told you?"

"I don't want to talk about it." The second recording was turned off. Liara sighed. Mali was a very confused, hurt girl, she thought. She pressed the final entry. For a long moment there was silence, and then through the speakers the woman spoke. "Are you awake?" she whispered.

"Now I am." Mali's voice was sleepily grumpy.

"Sorry, I was just wondering."

"Well, I don't sleep well anymore, so when I do I like to enjoy it."

"Tomorrow is our last full day on the ship. Can I ask you just one question?"

"I can't promise I will answer, but shoot." Mali answered, she sounded tired.

"You said you were a thief, I am curious, why?" She asked.

"Trying to add to my already long charges list?" Mali asked sarcastically. The woman chuckled.

"You know I'm not." She answered. There was a long pause, the longest Liara had heard yet, and then Mali hesitantly answered.

"When I was little, I lived in an orphanage. When we reached a certain age the owner of the orphanage, Mrs. McCruley, would throw you out on the street to beg for money. Often enough 'begging' meant stealing from people. I was about six when it happened to me."

"That's terrible!" The woman answered.

"Yes, but it was the only way. If we didn't bring back a satisfactory amount of money to her at the end of each day she wouldn't let us sleep in the orphanage. I wasn't very good at it, so I spent about a week living outside on the streets until I finally earned some money."

"Earned? Not stolen?"

"Yah. It was a strange day when that happened, with a strange woman. But I have to say that that day, and that woman changed my life." Mali's voice grew soft and distant with memories, Liara felt a tingle in her stomach, something was not right here. There was a rustle.

"What's that?" the woman asked.

"It's my lucky credit chit. It was the first that I ever made. I carry it with me all the time to remind me of that day…it started right after I tried to cut the purse of this man and he almost hit me. I ran away crying because he almost hit me, and then I ran into this lady who gave me this chit and offered me a job to take her around town." As Mali started to speak dim images started flickering in the back of Liara's brain, an uneasiness settled in her stomach and only grew as she continued to listen. "I showed her around until late, when she took me to the docking bay area, to load all her stuff onto her ship that she had bought. I think that if things would have ended different, I could have ended up on that ship too. But Mrs. McCruley intervened and tried to bargain for my life, she threatened me at knife point to see if she could get money from the rich lady. But the woman threatened her with her biotics and Mrs. McCruely relented, only to stab her later when we weren't paying attention. I ran away after that, and never looked back. I lived on my own until…" Mali petered off, Liara got the sense that she was avoiding something.

"You said that the woman used biotics?" The officer asked. Chills started to run up Liara's spine, could it be? No, it had happened a long time ago, the chances that Mali could…her thoughts were interrupted.

"Yah, she was an asari. Light blue, if I remember correctly."

"Did you get her name?"

"No, but why would it matter? She's dead. But there was something she said to me that I remember." Liara was on the verge of panic, she sat up, her eyes wide in anticipation. It can't be…

"What did she say?" The woman asked.

"She said she was an archeologist." Mali answered. The third, and final, recording shut off. Liara felt sick to her stomach with disbelief, but at the same time a thrill of hope and excitement flew through her body. Liara stared in shock at the empty wall across from her, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

"By the goddess," She breathed, "that was me."