Next chapter is up! Sorry it took so long, I have had work and Uni and may have lost a few days playing Dragon Age: Inquisition... 115 hours to be exact...What year is it again?

Anyway, the game gave me a new love for Traynor, the voice actress is one of my favourites...after Jennifer Hale of course!

Please tell me what you think of this chapter, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy

Grokira Daral was a man that enjoyed the finer things in life. He much preferred the fruity aromas and taste of an Asari wine over the vile ales and spirits that his people seemed to like so much. He favoured the luxuries of the soft cotton sheets and expensive meats and cheese of the Citadel, much more than the lurking dark corners of Omega or the polluted crime ridden streets of his own people's planets and colonies. He would choose expensive linens and clothes to drape his large frame over the simple leathers his people often wore, preferring the glittering golds and royal reds over the smudged browns and dim oranges. Common clothes he called them. Workers clothes.

Maybe it is just because he liked to set himself apart from his people. Set himself apart from the bottom feeding thuggish reputation that his people have made for themselves…Or maybe it was just because he could afford it. He was after all, one of the best slavers in the Galaxy, but he learned early on that the art of business was the difference between a small hole in the ground and a luxury apartment on the Citadel.

He smiled as he finished off the last of his wine, complementing it with a large slice of crumbling cheese. He savoured the taste as he rose from his seat, slowly moving to the mirror to glance at his reflection. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he glanced at the gash along his head. He knew that fucking bartender had it in for him. Stupid Asari bitch.

He would have to see to it that she had an 'accident'. No one would miss her, and people paid a lot of money for Asari matriarchs, especially ones that had a lot of fight left in them. It gives them a sense of power, a sense of worth, and if he gets paid at the end of the day, he is more than happy to help them attain that power. He growled at his reflection as he heard a knock on the door.

Daral answered the door, a scowl printed on his face as he greeted his visitor. It instantly disappeared when he saw the tall blue eyed man before him. His shoulders sagged a little. Smith smiled at him, his lips pulled upwards as if he were smiling at a friend.

"Grockira. It been a long time. I haven't heard from you in a while…I was getting worried." Smith said, inviting himself in and looking around.

"I thought our business was done. I got you your test subjects." Grockira explained, his voice shaking slightly.

"Our business in done my good man, but can't an old friend just pop over for a visit." Smith's smile widened, the whites of his teeth showing.

"I wouldn't not consider us friends Smith."

The blue eyed man's smile fell, his hand moving to his chest in mock offence. "Oh, that hurts. What-ever am I going to do with your present now? "

Daral frowned.

"What are you talking about Smith?"

The door behind him opened and closed. Daral turned, his eyes widening as a red headed woman walked in. He backed away reaching for the invisible pistol on his hip.

"What is the meaning of this?" He shouted, watching as Shepard walked towards Smith, her eyes never leaving him as she obediently stood by Smiths side. Smith chuckled.

"I guess I should explain shouldn't I." He said. "Don't worry. She not here to harm you. In fact, she wishes to apologise…you know, for blowing up your planet and all."

Daral moved his gaze between Smith and Shepard. His teeth clenching in anticipation. He licked his lips before speaking.

"How?" It was only know Daral noticed the flashing control collar around the woman's neck, but even that didn't take away free will.

"It does not matter how. All that matters is I have her completely under my control." Smith explained. "It was not easy. I will tell you that. Her friends have been relentlessly trying to save her."

Smith took small steps towards the Baterian, his expression darkening. "Which leads me to the question, of how they knew where to find her? How they found our facility so quickly?"

Daral shifted uncomfortably. Smith stopped right in front of him, his tall frame towering over the fat Baterian with a distasteful expression.

"I think you have outlived your usefulness to me."

The words struck Daral like a knife. A cold feeling resting in his chest and remaining there. Smith turned, walking towards the door like man walking through a park. He picked up a piece of cheese, placing the small bit of food in his mouth before continuing towards the exit. Shepard remained standing where she was. Her eyes focused on Daral.

"Kill him."

Smith closed the door behind him with a smile.

Liara stared into to the black liquid of her coffee cup with sad eyes. Her fingers tracing invisible circles on the table as she let the drink cool. Human coffee was much less stronger than the Asari brew, but it still kept her nerves at bay. Ashley had been taken in for emergency surgery, Shepard's blade had managed to do considerable internal damage. When this mess was all over, she knew Shepard would be blaming herself about it. It might have been her physically, but she in no way had control of what she was doing.

The Asari sighed and sipped her drink, squinting at the bitter taste. Asari coffee was also much sweeter. She added three teaspoons of sugar, taking another sip.

"What's eating you kid?" The distinctive sound of her father's voice caused her to look up, a small sad smile tugging at her lips. "I thought you would be out saving Shepard. Better do it fast. You look like you need to get laid. "

Liara sighed.

"Do you always have to be so crude?"

Aethyta shrugged, a cheeky smile playing across her features.

"What?" She chuckled "Sex is a great reliever of stress. It's a proven fact, and when you have a nice piece of ass like Shepard, it helps."

"I didn't think you liked humans in that way father." Liara sounded shocked. Her bright eyes widening. The Matriarch shook her head as she began to clean the bar.

"I'm not into humans. I'm in to asses, and Shepard has a nice one. Fills that uniform of hers in all the right places."

Liara sighed again, blushing as she tried to hide behind her coffee cup.

"But you didn't come here to talk about your bond-mates ass. So, what's up?"

Liara rubbed her eyes before answering.

"Ashley is injured. Badly. She is currently in surgery."

"Shit what happened?" Aethyta leaned in, placing a soft hand on Liara's forearm.

"Shepard happened. This man that took her. Did something to her head, to turn her against us. She…attacked us."

For a moment, Liara thought Aethyta would yell and scream, but to her surprise, her father just stood there, eyes focuses on her own. Waiting for her to continue.

"She had no control over what she was doing. She was trying to fight it, she must have been. What scared me most…was her eyes." Liara continued.

"Her eyes?" Her father asked.

"They were…dull. Almost completely white. I could feel her fighting with herself…but, it was very faint. Almost as if she were not there…inside herself…does that make any sense?" Liara hung her head, a tear falling down her cheek. "I fear that if we don't find her soon. That I will lose her forever...again."

Aethyta squeezed Liara's arm.

"All the more reason for you to be out there looking for her. Ashley is in good hands now, you can't do anything the doctors aren't already doing. But Shepard...your bond-mate needs you right now."

Liara wiped away another tear, staring up at her father with a new sense of respect. She sniffed then steeled her gaze.

"You're right. We cannot delay."

Aethyta watched as the young maiden hurried away, taking the coffee cup with her. The matriarch giggled, feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest.

That's my girl.

Miranda paced CIC with an angry scowl, her fists clenched at her side as she eyed the galaxy map. She sighed, a million questions bumping around in her head at the same time.

"Are you sure this information is correct?" She asked, turning to the dark haired tech that gazed at her with large eyes. The young woman nodded her head, checking the data on her computer once more.

"I have triple checked it, twice. Shepard and Smith are on the Citadel, she used her spectre status to gain entry without C-SEC knowing. Vid feeds see them heading towards the apartments where Daral's body was found. They left the area then disappeared. I have notified C-SEC. Garrus is working with them closely, they have yet to find any trace of Cerberus or Smith."

Miranda sighed, slamming her fist down hard on the metal frame of the galaxy map.

Traynor jumped at the sudden action. Clearing her throat. She thought for a moment, studying the screens on her computer.

"They can't have just disappeared." Liara spoke up, waving her hands wildly in the air. James barely avoided the Asari's left hand as it swiped hard towards his face.

"There might be a way we can find Shepard."

Miranda turned towards the young Alliance officer, scowling.

"Talk."

"We have been going about it the wrong way. All this time we have been searching for Smith in a hope that Shepard would be with him. After the Geth attacked the Citadel, certain sensors were installed to track even the slightest synthetic movement on the station." Samantha explained, hurriedly typing commands into her laptop. The others listened tensely.

"I could tap into the Citadels security systems. Shepard might not be fully synthetic, but more than half of her is being held together with cybernetics. It could track her down." Traynor explained, Miranda nodded.

"Do it." The Australian said.

"Slight problem. By doing this I am breaking at least seven galactic laws and many, many laws of the Citadel. It will also lock C-SEC out of the system, the implications could be-"

"Just do it specialist!" Miranda yelled. Sam kept a calm composure, turning the ex-officer with thin lips.

"With all due respect ma'am. I don't answer to you." She tried to contain a smile as Miranda's composure fell. The ex-Cerberus officer mouth falling open in disbelief. The specialist turned to James, straightening her posture.

"As second acting commander of this vessel, I leave the decision to you sir."

If James Vega's eyes could widen any-more, they would have popped right out of his skull. He looked from Traynor, to Miranda, then to Liara, before moving his head back towards the young british officer. Clearing his throat, he shrugged.

"Why the hell not" He said, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

"Rules are made to be broken."

Next chapter will be up soon. It is already half written. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please tell me what you think!