"Weapons down. Now!"

"Burn in the Void, filthy Pyjacks!"

"Let go of him!"

"Just shoot him!"

"RRRAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!"

Abby watched with fascination and mild terror as a Blood Pack Krogan barreled his way through a squad of Cerberus soldiers. The Troopers didn't have much of a chance against the hulking alien, but it seemed as though for every one he dispatched, two took their place.

"Like Whack-A-Mole. Story of my life. That big guy needs help."

With finesse, Abby dropped from the ceiling duct and onto the roof of a market stall. She briefly brought up her Omni-tool and tapped a few buttons before moving to a position of attack.

(Aligns & Rubicones - Friday Night Firefight)

The Assassin set her sights on a Trooper approaching the Krogan from the side, knowing better than to strike from the rear. She dropped onto the man's unsuspecting shoulders and ripped off his helmet, before bashing him over the head with it. This caught the attention of a Centurion. Williams sprang up and kicked the soldier's weapon out of his hands, but he drew his Shock Baton in time to block her incoming Blade. The armored soldier pushed the Blade out of the way and punched Abby in the face, making her stumble away. The pair rejoined as the Centurion produced a Carnifex pistol. Abby grabbed the man's wrist, forcing his arm up over his head, before stomping on his foot. While the Cerberus soldier was twisted up, he was defenseless against Abby's Locust, which quickly ate through his shields.

The Krogan hadn't yet noticed his assistant, instead focused on the Guardian before him. Growing annoyed with his shotgun's ineffectiveness against the Human's shield, the Krogan dropped the gun and grabbed the white metal, ripping it from the soldier's grasp. This had the side effect of taking one of his arms with it, and the man cried out in pain and horror as his alien attacker began to pummel him with the large shield. The Guardian dealt with, the Krogan turned his attention to a pair of Troopers, who seemed unfazed by their comrade's rather brutal demise.

A Blade flew through the air as the last soldiers fell, and the Krogan turned on his heel to find a Phantom behind him, a large knife protruding from her chest. The operative stumbled backwards and collapsed, and the towering alien discovered his helper standing several feet away, her throwing arm still extended.

"Who are you supposed to be?" He grunted.

"A friend of Aria's." Abby said. "And an ally to you." She pointed at the Phantom, and at the two Cerberus soldiers she had taken down. "You're welcome, by the way."

"Hmph."

"Where is Aria? We… I saw that her ship crashed."

"In one of the pods that way." The helmeted Krogan gestured to an alleyway behind him with a disinterested tone and expression. "Provided she made it to one. Which way to her bunker?"

"The halls I came through were clear."

"That's disappointing." The Krogan collected his shotgun and sidestepped the Assassin, who shrugged and continued on her way.

Omega was surprisingly empty compared to her previous visits. Once upon a time, every street would be crammed shoulder to shoulder with people going about their daily lives. Walking to or from work, visiting shops or friends, or simply wandering around. Vendors manned stalls, selling everything from live animals to gun mods, gang hoodlums and mercenaries would extort or offer their services to people, all without a single authority figure to enforce any form of law or order.

In fact, apart from the last one, Omega was just like New York City.

"Area depressurized?" Abby groaned in annoyance as she approached a sealed door. "Dammit…"

"Hey! You!"

"Huh?" Williams turned on her heel to find a squad of Cerberus soldiers approaching her from the side. They were armored, heavily armed, and accompanied by Rampart Mechs and a Phantom. Knowing better than to immediately attack, Abby put her hands up.

"The station is under lockdown. All civilians are supposed to be in their quarters." The Centurion leader said. "State your business. Now."

"I'm just trying to get home." Abby lied as quickly and calmly as possible.

"Which section do you live in?" The Centurion demanded.

"Tuhi District."

"Tuhi is that way." The armored man pointed over his shoulder. He tilted his head, quickly growing suspicious of the hooded woman before him. "What's your name?"

"I… I'm-"

"Hey, wait." A Trooper next to the Centurion interrupted. "That hood…" Abby reached up and touched the garment. "I recognize you! From the wanted posters!"

"Who is she?" The leader asked.

"An Assassin. She's wanted for Commander Amherst's death on Benning. And the General warned us about her."

The squad of soldiers all stared down at Abigail, readying their weapons. "Turn around and put your hands behind your head!" The Centurion barked. "Do it now!"

"Hey, look, fellas." Abby said calmly, trying to formulate an escape plan. "I don't want any trouble." She didn't know this area of the station well. "I don't know who this 'Assassin' is, but… I'm pretty sure you're mistaken."

"We're not taking any chances." The Trooper shot back. "Shut up, and turn around."

"Look, I'm not a threat." Williams took a tiny step backwards, followed by another. "I'm just trying to go home. My sister is waiting for me."

"Stop! Hands behind your head! Now!"

"Hey, now…" In one swift motion, Abby revealed one Blade, twirled it around, and threw it squarely at the Trooper. The razor-sharp tip wedged itself though his helmet, stabbing him through the eye. The accompanying muscle spasm made the soldier fire his Hornet as he fell, peppering the squad with gunfire and taking off the head of one of the Mechs. By the time the Centurion had shrugged off the impact of several rounds, Abby had bolted.

(ME3 Soundtrack: Cerberus Agent)

"After her!" He roared at his subordinates. The Troopers and surviving Mech opened fire, while the Phantom took off in pursuit.

Moving as fast as her legs would carry her, Abby attempted to put as much distance between herself and the pursuing soldiers as possible. She slid around a corner on the slippery metal deck, ducking and weaving between abandoned market stalls and stacks of Cerberus supply crates scattered around. A glimmer caught her eye and she dropped into a roll, narrowly avoiding a sword. The Assassin spun around and found the Phantom directly behind her.

"Boo!" He taunted, lunging forward with his weapon again. Abby drew her one Blade and prepared a defense. She would have to deal with the Phantom quickly if she hoped to escape the rest of the squad.

Abby elbowed the Phantom in the arm, slicing him in the side as he stumbled forward. She followed and kicked his legs out from under him, knocking away the man's sword with her foot and swiping down with her Blade. Taken by surprise, the Phantom caught her knife, but was overpowered by Williams pushing down with all her weight, stabbing through his throat. After several tense seconds, his hands fell away, and Abby yanked her weapon free, only to look up and find the rest of the Cerberus squad barreling down on her. The Assassin turned and bolted down the alley, cornering every which way in an effort to shake her pursuers.

One route she turned down was labeled 'Waste Processing', and abruptly turned into a steep slope. Abby transitioned from running to sliding, only to begin tumbling when gravity began pulling her down too fast.

"Shit, shit, SHIT!" She cried out with every impact, crashing into a pile of boxes at the bottom and falling to the floor, weapon flying from her grasp. Her breath gone and body in general pain, Williams pulled herself towards her Blade, retrieving it and turning around to find the Cerberus soldiers being gunned down.

(End: Cerberus Agent)

Bewildered, the Assassin looked in the direction she was running and spotted three people approaching, weapons up. Two were a welcome sight, Talon leader Nyreen and Pirate Queen Aria.

The third was Commander Shepard.

"Told you we'd find her." T'Loak stated matter of factly. "Just follow the sound of yelling and gunfire."

"Abigail! Are you alright?" Kandros was clearly the most concerned.

Shepard shouldered past both of them and approached the grounded Assassin, an annoyed expression on her face. Abby responded with a nervous chuckle.

"Uh… hi, Shepard." The Commander eyed the girl for a few more moments, before reaching out and offering a hand. Williams hesitantly took it, allowing Jane to pull her to her feet. "...thanks."

"I told you not to come here alone." Shepard finally spoke. Abby immediately went from thankful and relieved to defensive and angry.

"I know you did. And you know why I went anyway. What are you even doing here, Shepard? You've made your stance on my quest pretty clear."

"I did. And I was wrong." The Commander lowered her head. "Before you ask, Traynor told me where you went. And before you get mad at her, she's the one who made me realize how much of a hypocrite I was being. In the past, I've helped out my squadmates whenever they asked for it. I have gone against orders multiple times. Hell, one of those times got me the Star of Terra. I brushed you aside, and that wasn't fair. I'm sorry."

Abby was taken aback. A superior had never apologized to her before, especially one of Shepard's caliber. She didn't know how to react.

"Uh… apology… um… accepted."

"You're off the hook for jumping ship on me. For now."

"Yes, Mom." Williams said instinctively. "It won't happen agai-uh… wait…" Shepard smiled.

"'Mom', huh? First I'm Lola, now I'm Mom?"

"Sorry, Shep. You just… remind me of my Mom, sometimes." The Assassin said, shuffling her feet. "Ash feels the same way, she just hasn't said anything."

"Sweet Mother of Armali." Aria interrupted. "We don't have time for this, Shepard. We have to get to the bunker."

"Aria." Nyreen scolded. The indignant Asari ignored her.

"Unfortunately, Aria is right." Shepard said, giving her rifle a once over. "We have to get moving before more soldiers show up."

"Right behind you." Abby smiled. As the four women proceeded down a dark tunnel-like hallway, the Assassin among them felt a small sense of gratification. Shepard, who at every turn so far had pushed Abby's mission to the wayside, had now gone out of her way to actually help. Even though, technically, the Commander was only present because of Aria, Abby felt as if her mission was just as important to somebody else as it was to her.

"Say, Shepard." Abby inquired. "Does… anyone else know you're here?"

"Just Ashley and Liara. Your sister brought in her own brand of insubordination and ordered me to bring you back to her." Jane looked down and smiled. "And Liara actually yelled at me for what I said to you at the apartment."

Williams barked a laugh. "Ya'know, Traynor yelled at me within ten seconds of our… thing starting. Whatever we are now. It was about how I put my life on the line so often, but still."

"Is that right?" Shepard glanced at the young Assassin. "And what are you two?"

"I'm not… completely sure." Abby said hesitantly. "Whatever it is… I like it."

"Not to break up a tender moment," Aria growled. "but can we kick Cerberus off of my fucking station, please?" Nyreen lightly punched the Pirate Queen in the shoulder. "What?"

"Don't be so rude to your friends."

"Me? Rude? Never, darling."

"You know, Abigail and her 'thing' reminds me of us at one point." Kandros smirked, while Aria rolled her eyes.

"Pff. As if."

A/N: Last week was this fic's fourth birthday, so Happy Late Birthday, ACME!

Apologies for taking so long with updates for everything but the Girls und Panzer stuff. Everything has become a side project

ADHD? What's that?

Anyways, I know I shouldn't be neglecting this fic, because it has the most followers by a massive margin. Every week that goes by where I don't write something down feels like there was some obligation that I simply didn't do. For no real reason. I'm trying!

Huge thank you to everyone for your patience and support. Thanks to the new followers. I know you're here, but the list of followers for this thing is really long, and FF doesn't let me sort it by date

Catch y'all later! (God. What kind of outro was that?)