"What?" Shepard eyes narrowed as she looked at Bellona who was looking pale and breathing hard as she sat on her bed.
Bellona tried to calm down her breathing and get herself under control, " I need to get into Citadel Archives…I know how this sounds like…but please I need your help,"
Shepard looked back at the data on her omnitool, she really did not know if she can help Bellona, since doing what she asked will be a betrayal, true she was a Spectre, speaking of Spectre she need to visit Anderson perhaps he could help. Looking at Bellona who's hazel eyes were looking at her , with such trust, she know she couldn't say no, maybe she should speak with Miranda first, take her opinion on this.
"Did you tell Miranda?" Shepard saw Bellona flinch when she said her name, she really did not know what to think of those two, they were best friends who grow up together, Miranda joined Cerberes to leave her father and protect her sister, and Bellona fallowed her, even though Miranda did not want to.
Shepard remembers the talk she had in the elevator with Miranda as they went looking for Nicket.
Shepard and Miranda walked into the bar to find Miranda's contract an asari by the name of Lanteia who was waiting by the private table on the balcony for them. She starte talking as soon as she recognised Miranda.
"Ms. Lawson, I'm glad you made it. We've had a complication.''
Miranda looked worried, ''What happened? IS Oriana all right?''
Lanteia nodded her head, ''She's fine. But… you listed a man named Niket as your trusted source? He contracted me, warning that your father has send Eclipse mercenaries to make a sweep. HE suggested that the mercs might be watching for you personally. He's offered to escort Oriana's family to the terminal instead."
Shepard was confused as she turned to Miranda ''You didn't mention anything about Niket.''
Miranda looked back at Shepard, ''He's a friend, He and I go back a long way… just like Bell.''
Lanteia interrupted them " do you want to bring in any of your other Illium contracts, MS, Lawson?''
Miranda sharply said, ''No, You, Agent Rose and Niket are the only one's I trust on this.''
Shepard turned back to Lanteia ''''What information do you have about the mercenaries?''
"I've confirmed that they're Eclipse, and that they're working for organization Ms. Lawson warned us about. I could try to alert the authorities, but so far, they've done nothing illegal.''
Miranda nodded her head, ''You made the right decision. We'll handle this ourselves.''
Shepard looked at Miranda and gently said ''Its your sister Miranda. What do you want to do?''
Miranda looked back at the asari ''Lanteia, we'll follow Niket's suggestion. Shepard and I will take the car and draw their attention. Have Niket escort the family to the shuttle. Give him full access to the family's itinerary, just to be safe.''
Lanteia nodded her head. ''Understood, Ms. Lawson''
Shepard turned back to Miranda , '' So the plan is for us to get shot by Eclipse while your sister gets to safety?''
Miranda smiled and corrected Shepard ''Eclipse will be under orders to take my sister alive. They won't risk anything that could kill us.''
Shepard was more worried about her friend, because she could she what Happened with Bellona almost broke Miranda. She did not want Miranda to feel anymore guilt for Niket too. ''I doubt Eclipse will send all their people just to stop you. Do you want to give Niket ant backup?''
Miranda eyes softened , ''My backup was supposed to be Agent Rose, but Niket can take care of himself. Besides, any armed backup will draw attention to him.''
Shepard could still see that Miranda still not over what happened with Bellona, ''I'm ready whenever you are, Miranda.''
After they left the bar they too a sky car and went after the Eclipse, there was a lot of fire fight, as they fought thro the Eclipse to the elevator that would take them to Niket and Oriana Miranda found a radio on one of the merc.
Miranda stopped by the dead body a radio in her hand. ''Hang on. I've got one of their radios, I'll patch us is, see if I can get am idea what we're up against. Shepard…I think I owe you and explanation. Oriana is my twin, genetically. But my father….grew her when I was a teenager. She was meant to replace me. I couldn't let my father do to her what he did to me. So I and Bellona rescued her. She is almost a woman now.'' Miranda finished softly.
Shepard did not understand why Miranda hided that it was a kid. ''Why didn't you tell me that we were saving a kid? Bellona was part of it?''
Miranda crossed her arms. ''She is not a child, she'll be 19 this year. And yes she was part of it, She know everything about Oriana. But…well, it didn't seems relevant at the time, I suppose. There are people who would use her against me. I am very protective when it comes to Oriana.'' 'or what is mine ' she though in her head, ''I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. You deserved to know.''
Shepard understood her problem but a child? '' I understand choosing to go your own way, but you stole a young child from her father.''
Miranda argued with Shepard she did not know her father. '' If you knew my father, you would understand. I wasn't the first one he made. I was only the first he kept. I was brought up with no friends, until Bellona, pushed to meet impossible demands. I was lucky I found Bellona, she was the same as me, alone and not needed to anyone. I wasn't a daughter to him. I was…I don't know what I was.'' She shook her head. '' Oriana has had a normal life. I made the right decision.''
Shepard walked closer and put a hand on her Shoulder, ''If Eclipse knows where Oriana is, they'll be moving on her soon. We need to hurry.''
Miranda nodded her head. ''Agreed. I'm a bit worried by what the merc said. If they got to Niket somehow, this is going to be harder than I'd planned. According to specs I reviewed, we'll need to cut through the cargo processing yard to get to Oriana.''
As they went inside the Elevator Shepard said ''I hope your friend can be trusted.''
Miranda smiled softly ''Absolutely. Niket is one of my oldest friends. He was the only person we did not cut ties with, when we left my father.''
''Is there a chance your father could be using Niket to get to you?''
Miranda narrowed her eyes her voice turned cold, '' I'm sure he tried, but Niket's one of few people who understand what my father is really like. I trusted him with my life and Bellona's when I run from my father, Shepard. He won't betray me now.''
''Can you tell me anything about the cargo processing yard?''
''We'll be moving through conveyor system. There'll be a lot of movements. Finding targets wont be easy. We'll need to stay sharp. And these cargo transport carry hazardous materials, so watch you shoot are.''
Shepard nodded her head she has all information she needs, '' Lets go find Niket and Oriana.''
Miranda nodded. '' Right.''
As they killed all the Eclipse by the second elevator, they heard that Niket was going to switch them Oriana, and that choked Miranda.
''Niket…but that can't be right….Maybe the captain knows we're listening in and she's feeding misinformation about Niket making switch. Or maybe it means something else. Niket wouldn't do that. Damn it why won't this thing go any faster?'' She punched the elevator console in anger.
''Did Niket know that you took Oriana from your father?''
''No he just found out about it recently. It was too personal to involve someone else. I never really though about it, but maybe…no. He'd have to understand why I did it. He knows what I went through.
''What makes you so sure that Niket won't turn on you?''
''He could've turned on me when I run away. I'm sure my father tried to buy him off. If he did not do it then, why would he do it now?''
''You know him Miranda. If you don't think he'd betray you, them I'm sure there another explanation.''
''I don't know, damn it! But I guess we'll find out soon enough. And then I'll have a word with this Captain Enyala.''
After that everything went down, Niket almost betray Miranda and Miranda almost killed him but Shepard stopped her from making a mistake from shooting her friend, instead he died by the Eclipse captain shotgun, Miranda in rage took her on with her biotic, finding out that Oriana is safe and making sure that Oriana knows that she has an older sister, made it more bittersweet.
For the first time Shepard saw Miranda cry. Was it tears of happiness or sadness, she did not know. But she was glad that everything turned out well for Oriana.
Shepard looked back at Bellona, ''I'll think about it.''
Bellona nodded her head, as her breathing went back under control, Shepard said that she will think about it and that is more then she can us for, after all she was asking for to much. Bellona tried to stand up, but suddenly she fall back onto bed, in all the rush she forgot about her injuries, as they once again let them self know. Shepard took Bellona by the Elbow and helped her get to her bed, in Bellona's condition, she will be out of fighting for some time.
''You can stay in my room, until you get better,'' Shepard said softly as she put Bellona under the blanket.
''You don't need to do that...'' Bellona whispered softly, feeling the burning in her lower back.
''I want to. Stay and get better, and then we can speak more about this request you told me.'' Shepard slowly went up to her terminal sending the data on her omnitool to the terminal in her cabin. Looking back to her room she saw Bellona finally fall asleep, shutting down the lights in her room, she left to make her rounds around the ship, knowing that a visit to Miranda was necessary, to find out more about this Data. As well as notify Dr. Chakwas about Bellona's condition.