Enyalius Fleet Depot
Normandy

"Command of the Normandy?" Liara repeated inanely as she stared at the screen of the console in the bedroom.

The news was startling. She was reconciled with the fact that going after Cerberus was going to take months but she did not fully realised what that would mean for Shepard. Thinking more carefully now, it was the logical step the Alliance would take. Having to jump through too many hoops would curtail Shepard's effectiveness. For her to operate at her best, the Alliance had accordingly given her that leeway of flexibility. Liara didn't know what she was feeling at the moment. It was as if a wall was cutting off her emotions.

Shepard looked discomfited. "I'm not sure how long this is going to take."

She made a face at the stack of datapads beside her on the desk. Liara could see a pile of hardcopies titling sideways on the other side. Old habits never die. Despite the ease of data retrieval and multitasking programs, her bondmate still preferred to divvy up her work on portable media and resolve them manually when possible. Just so when the discontent hit, she could vent her annoyance in the old fashion way, she had oft said.

The rest of the table and shelves behind Shepard were empty since she did not pack anything else other than her clothing. The door of the bathroom was closed. Everything was that familiar grey, black white of an office. The exception was the four bright gold cuff stripes and the same four strips on Shepard's shoulder boards, now with an additional blue patch with the crossed star and swords that denote ship command and cross services. The two diamond-shaped silver insignia on the collar. The ship patch plainly visible on the arm. Shepard looked no different when Liara first saw her in uniform except for the additional stripe of rank, that weight of experience and an unfathomable quality in her eyes.

She gave a start when Shepard spoke louder. "Liara?! Are you all right?"

"Yes." Liara mentally shook herself. Focus, she told herself.

"Are you sure?" Shepard said sharply. "I can make a detour..."

"No, you do not have to do that. Dad is here, and Shiala. They will look out for me, you do not have to worry."

Shepard eyed her doubtfully. Was Liara looking somewhat peaked? "Maybe you should move up that appointment with the gynecologist."

"Shepard, I am fine."

"Liara, just humor me, yes?"

"I am seeing her every day," Liara admitted reluctantly. "She just wants to make sure everything is going fine," she added quickly. "It is very rare for maidens to bear, Shepard," she said firmly when she saw suspicion in her bondmate's gaze.

That reminder only bolstered Shepard's misgivings about the pregnancy. It was not something she understood. She had no such qualms when Liara proposed they should have a child almost a year ago. When had her doubts started? What had changed? Could it only be a troubling break in behaviour she had recently noticed in her bondmate? Shepard wasn't sure.

"All right. Promise you won't keep the slightest itch to yourself," she said, "even if it's under your foot." She cocked an eyebrow at Liara in emphasis and shared a smile, the latter somewhat in embarrassment. "There's another thing..," she paused, half wondering if she would alarm Liara with her suggestion.

"What is it?"

"I want you to maintain a tighter security buffer. Other than the gynecologist and Telienos, have as little contact with anyone outside the T'Soni estate. That includes your colleagues from the medical centre."

Liara stared at her in astonishment. "Shepard."

"I would go so far as to as to advise extending the buffer to the red."

The request made very little sense to Liara. "What has happened?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Plunderers of Shairio," Shepard said in archaic asari lingua franca.

Liara's eyes widened. "I don't understand," she said in the same language. "Is Cerberus seeking revenge? How is that possible?"

"It's something more than that. Watch and be careful, Liara. I'll explain when I get back."

Who else could there be if not Cerberus? Was Shepard saying that they could try to harm her if they had intentions on her? Liara couldn't see how Cerberus personnel was going to reach her. Or was it Terra Firma? She frowned. In her current condition, she was extremely vulnerable. Her hands smoothed anxiously over her belly and felt the tiny movements within.

"Liara." Shepard softened her tone. "It's just a precaution. Please do as I asked. It will greatly ease my mind."

"I will arrange to meet the gynecologist on the estate," said Liara, understanding that her bondmate required focus to complete her current mission as fast as possible. That she was worried about her and the baby gave her an unexpected boost to her mood. "I will discuss additional security measures with dad and send you the updates."

Shepard glanced at the chronometer. It was late in the night on Thessia. She didn't want to keep Liara up any longer than she had to. She nodded. "That will do. Don't work too hard on those TI analysis. It's not going to make any difference in the long run."

"I know." Liara shifted uncomfortably; the ache in her back was becoming more pronounced. "There is still a chance of a breakthrough."

"The only breakthrough we had was the Prothean scrambler and even that may become a defunct solution. Thanks to the Council sitting on their fanny, as usual," Shepard said sourly. "It's down to push and push. The only thing we have to prepare are body bags." She ended with an exasperated snort.

Earth was free of the TI but what about Thessia and the rest of the other homeworlds? If only there was a safe place for Liara to go to.

"Shepard.."

"It's late, you've better go to bed. And don't," Shepard pointed an accusing finger at Liara, "tell me your back is fine."

"I will not because it is aching," Liara admitted. "When are you calling back?"

"I'm not sure. There may be a comm blackout at our end. Route any urgent message to Alliance Command if you can't reach me."

"I will. Take care, love. Esare'ie (heart of my heart)."

"Esare'ie. Good night."

Sitting back in her chair, Shepard stared at the darkened screen, drumming her fingers on the armrest of her chair. Perhaps she should have told Liara what Miranda had revealed in their conversation earlier. Fantastic as it was, she needed to hear it straight from Karin although Miranda concurred with the doctor's conclusion. It wasn't enough for her to believe it even if Binary Helix thought it worthwhile to pursue. She got up from the chair and paced over to the aquarium. How far would Binary Helix go? With Karin's end compromised, should she try to contact her? She stared at the fish gliding smoothly in the water.

"EDI."

"Yes, Shepard?"

"Locate Miranda and get her up here please."

"Yes, Shepard."

Returning to the desk, Shepard picked up one of the datapads and read through a FC (first class) petty chief's personal jacket. Many of her mates at boot camp and later, fellow officers thought it idiosyncratic of her to use so many datapads and hardcopies. She developed the habit after persistently and carelessly omitted multiple imputations in class assignments in her early years. The lapses cost her points in her academic scores. A critical concern when she was aiming for the Systems Alliance military academy when she come of age.

She found that pertinent data narrowed down to simple media considerably consolidated her focus and reduced the chances for errors. It expanded her ability to multi-track through the ICT (Interplanetary Combatives Training) modules. Even though she no longer needed to apportion her workload in such a manner, she continued. Why changed what worked for her?

Lance thought it an admirable quality. Self training and self reliance rather than dependency on gadgets would steer human ascendance in the right direction, he had said. Lowering the datapad, Shepard frowned. Gadgets. Human ascendancy. Would he have relied on control chips? She stared at her hand. What was it that he had once said before after a stunning display from her during biotic training? The door chimed.

"Miss Lawson, Shepard."

"Enter." She turned from the desk and looked at the video pickup at the entrance. "EDI, pretend you're deaf and blind for ten minutes."

"Yes, Shepard."

"Didn't leave you much, did he?" Miranda remarked as she walked in, looking around the bare cabin and paused at the aquarium. "At least he left the fish." She peered at the colourful denizens.

"Do you have anyone reliable to get Dr Chakwas to Thessia?" Shepard asked.

Miranda turned around with an expectant look. 'Do you want all pertinent data scrubbed as well?"

"I do. You said they didn't manage get to the data core on Chakwas's side, only the surface files." When Miranda confirmed it, Shepard said with finality. "I'd rather not leave the data anywhere in the Sol system."

"You don't want the data anywhere at all, period," Miranda said grimly. "At least, not now. Taking Chakwas out of the Alliance and putting her on Thessia doesn't change the security concerns."

"It's easier to get to her on Earth than on Thessia."

"Point." Miranda conceded. "Why not get Hackett into this?"

"I know he's unlikely to train up a set of goons and lock me up in a lab but the potential of the discovery is a gold mine."

"You trusted him all this time, don't you trust him to do what's best for everyone in this case?"

To that, Shepard could form no suitable answer. Frankly, she was feeling a little paranoid and worried for her immediate family. The fewer people knew about it, the better. The sooner she exerted control over the information, the better she would feel too.

Miranda understood the dilemma gripping Shepard. She could also guess what else was troubling her.

"Chakwas and I agreed the viability of the discovery is contingent on more research. It's going to take years before an applicable process can be dispensed. This is something she wants to work closely with you. Getting Hackett on board will smooth things along and take care of some problems."

Shepard sighed. "I suppose," she said doubtfully.

"He can kick Chakwas faster to Thessia since you're so adamant," Miranda said with a grin.

Throwing up her hands in surrender, Shepard turned back to the desk. "Fine, fine. I'll drop a note to Chakwas and see what she says. How's Oriana?" she asked, changing the subject.

"She's finishing up the last of the CDA (colony development and administrative) modules." Miranda leaned against the aquarium and shivered slightly at the cold glass against her back. "She's already had some field experience and wants to get her hands really dirty."

"Think you can loose the leash?"

"She is free to do and go where she wants. As long as I get the itinerary."

Protective as ever. In what way in the last five years? Shepard wondered. "Does she ever turn the tables on you?"

"I'm not a jailor, Shepard. I'm simply..."

"Looking out for her, I know." Shepard decided not to point out Oriana was twenty-four years old. If Miranda was holding on too tight, Oriana would be chaffing at the hobbles. The intercom beeped.

"Sir, incoming call from Omega," said Araki.

"Put it through."

Shepard sat up as the screen before her desk lit up to a familiar sight; Aria's private sanctum. Miranda moved nearer to get a better view as the loft was filled with the booming bass of loud music. Bright orange, dark red, blue and white hue of lights oscillated to the beat. Beneath it all, they could hear voices, laughter, the clink of glasses and the shuffle thump of many feet near the vid pickups. There was no one on the couch. A large shadow gamboled past. Miranda snorted in derision when she realised the shadow was that of a cavorting couple of unknown origins holding fast to each other. Tapping a finger on the desk, Shepard waited patiently and then sat back when more shadows writhed past. What was Aria up to?

"I think I can get better entertainment from the xtranet," she said dryly to a shadowy rocking that looked suspiciously like coitus in the upright position, just barely visible to the right.

The lump of shadows reeled back and forth and then vanished with sudden abruptness. Shepard fancied she heard thumps and cries of pain. Seconds later, the pirate queen herself, in a resplendent black gold red outfit dropped down gracefully on the couch. The music was muted. She could hear Aria's bodyguards chasing off the revelers.

"What's the party?" she asked.

"Haven't you heard?" Aria drawled as she settled back comfortably and crossed her legs. "Omega is open for business."

"That's some grand opening you're having."

"I would have sent you an invitation if I thought you'd accept." Someone off screen offered a glass of amber liquid to Aria. "But that backbone of yours is just too stiff to unbend," she said as she took a sip. "You just need to find the right person to do it for you." She arched a "brow" suggestively.

"My backbone is fine as it is."

"Shepard, Shepard," Aria chided, "How can you be so certain when you don't even know you have a problem?"

"If it ever rises up and smacks me in the face, I'll know who to find," Shepard returned evenly. "Let's cut to the chase."

"Seriously Shepard, you need to work on loosening up," said Aria. "What do you want to know?"

"Has there been any movement around the Omega Relay recently?"

"There was." Putting down her glass, Aria regarded her solemnly. "A number of freighters came through and didn't return."

Shepard exchanged a look with Miranda. "How many?"

"About fifty." Eyes narrowed, Aria leaned forward. "What do you need?"

"The latest surveillance footage."

Aria shrugged and switched to archaic asari. "Where and when?"

"Fathar System, Dorgal in-," Shepard did a quick mental calculation, "twenty-six hours. Call sign, eagle eye."

"Your wish is my command," Aria said mockingly. "If you need able hands to dump Cerberus trash, I've two eager volunteers."

"Two volunteers?" Shepard couldn't imagine what Aria was talking about. Who would volunteer?

"You remember Miona."

"Miona?"

In a flash, Shepard remembered the asari with the strange but formidable biotics. Aethyta had mentioned in passing the Asari government's failure to secure the augmented asari and asked if she had any ideas to persuade Miona to return home. There wasn't any, really. Her contact with the young asari was brief. Omega was the last place she'd thought Miona would want to go to but she probably didn't have much of a choice. She and her partner would be tracked if they tried to take off by themselves. With Aria, at least they had some protection and shelter for a while until the Asari government made another attempt to have the changeling back on Thessia.

"How is she doing?"

"She makes a very good brooding bodyguard." Aria looked at someone beyond the range of the pickup. Was Miona listening in? "She is very thirsty for blood."

Was that a hint Aria was finding she couldn't handle the two? According to Aethyta, the augmented human male's projected lifespan was nearing its end. What would happen when he die? Would Miona run amok through Omega? That had to be Aria's major concern. Not that the pirate queen wouldn't be able to take Miona down but it would cost her.

"I'll let you know," said Shepard. "Running down Cerberus is going to take time."

"Don't take too long." Aria lifted her glass in salute. The viewscreen went dark. Shepard reached for the ship intercom.

"Commander Araki."

Araki responded at once. "Sir."

"How are we doing with the resupply?"

"Completed, sir. Proceeding to Serpent Nebula as per orders."

"Belay that. Set course for the Fathar System."

"Yes, sir," Araki said.

Shepard stared thoughtfully at the silent intercom. Not a single reminder that they might be late for the allied war conference on the Citadel. The commander carried out her orders without any input, even when invited to do so. She wondered if her XO would be a 'yes, sir. no, sir' robotic minion.

"What was that conversation with the pirate queen?" asked Miranda.

Shepard looked at her with some surprise. "You have no idea what we were talking about?"

"Not the last part, no." Miranda shook her head. "Were you speaking in asari?" It didn't sound even remotely like it.

"An older linguistic form they didn't upload to the language files. Isn't it lodged somewhere in the Cerberus language archives?"

"Not that I know of." Miranda eyed her speculatively. "Something you picked up from Liara?"

"Some. I'm going to need you to run down some surveillance logs with EDI."

"Just when I was looking forward to some down time." Miranda sighed in an exaggerated manner. "So, have you figured out what Greenacres want with you?"

Shepard gently pinched the bridge of her nose between her eyes, wishing the little ache behind her eyes would disappear. "He could have a bone to pick with me over TIM. If not, other than cat's paw, he could be trying to divert Alliance forces."

"If he was responsible for Starfire, why do you think he saved the people on Earth? Is he intending to use them for another purpose?" Miranda said contemplatively.

"If he's intending to take it over." Twirling the stylus in her hand absently, Shepard stared blankly at her console screen. "I think that's not what he wants. If Santino died before I got to him, I wonder what he'd use in place?"

"A personal goal? If he's putting out all those clues to direct you somewhere, why?"

"Do you suppose-" Shepard turned around to face Miranda. "He knows about Chakwas's discovery?"

Miranda nodded. "That's very likely. If he does know about it, he has moles at the research facility. Descroix could be working with him. If Descroix could get the base data, his company could try to work up a viable product. The profit they can make is going to more than triple what they lost. If they can make it work."

"Descroix is likely the one who made sure Santino hung on long enough. If Santino died, he could arrange something else to throw over the code." Shepard steeple her fingers. "If Lance knows about it, he would want the data too but he knows he needs a recent biosample as a base comparison to figure out the advancement of the modification."

"He knows he can't get to you so he has to find a way to make you move out into the open. If you're right." Miranda frowned as she considered various ramifications of Greenacres's intention. "Oh it stinks," she muttered in disgust.

"Yep." Shepard sighed. "I've already warned Liara and dropped a note to my mother. I can choose not to take his bait but I don't think that'll help in the long run."

"Is that all he wants?" Miranda emphasized dubiously. "A biosample?"

"I can only hope. I've no intention of getting caught and use as a lab rat," Shepard said resolutely. "Nor am I going to volunteer any such sample."

"Let's say he gets what he wants. Where does he go from there? He has to know the modification is a plausibility."

"If he has substantial Cerberus reserves, he'd use it where it'll do some good for Terra Firma. He could set up a colony somewhere, lay low and work on whatever he has already collected."

"If he doesn't get what he wants, does he keep going for you?"

Swinging her chair slowly side to side, Shepard brooded on it. "Maybe. He could withdraw and come back again later. I'm not going to let him do that."

"It's going to be tough-" Miranda jerked her chin at the bulkheads, "when we don't know where they are in the first place."

"There has be something in the Cerberus database," Shepard said slowly. "Most of the Cerberus personnel have to be defunct or close to it by now."

"Has to be. The Illusive Man started adapting Reaper implants months before the Reapers showed up."

"We know Cerberus established bases at the galactic core." Shepard exchanged a grim look with Miranda. "If he hasn't destroyed the bases, we could find something."

"Without the IFF, there's no fast way to get in there," Miranda reminded. She stiffened as a thought struck her. "He would direct you there. What better trap there is than the galactic core? He could change the IFF once you're through."

Shepard nodded. It was a possibility she had considered. "If he does, we have to find a way flip the tables on him. It's all conjecture right now, we have to wait for EDI's report."

"Excuse me, Shepard," EDI said softly.

"Yes EDI?

"I have collated all trading and transaction accounts in the Terminus Systems. The items that are going out in bulk for the last four years are mass relay navigational matrices and replacement components."

"What?" Miranda eyed Shepard with interest as she settled back in her chair with a sigh.

"How much would you bet Terra Firma has been snapping up all the navigational matrices and components they could get their hands on?"

"Why..," began Miranda before she connected the dots. "If they're going to set up and pull the door behind them, they're going to need all the replaceable parts they could find."

"I think they will pull the door but only after they have carried out other plans. They have been filching defunct ships from scrapyards, retooling them is going to take a lot of parts."

"So from where and when are they going to start bailing?"

"Maybe some place like the galactic core?" Shepard suggested drolly. "When ever it is, we'll be ready."

Serpent Nebula, Widow
Citadel

Lights. So many lights. Tessie stared out across the open ward arms as she stood at the observation lounge of the medbay. There was the familiar cloudy nebula blanketing everything. Sailing once more in perpetual vigilance was the Citadel Fleet. There were no traffic snakes criss-crossing the skies of the ward arms. Yet. It would take several more days, maybe another month before the populace would be allowed to return. Until then, there was only the lights to show the space station was once more in operation.

She peered through the window when a dark shadow glided past in the distance. A diamond shaped craft she had never seen before. The skin seemed to scintillate in the lights. Where did it come from? Who were the crew? It wasn't asari, turian, salarian, human or any ship she could name. Batarian? She frowned. But no, the batarians wouldn't have the resources to build such a ship, they had their hands full trying to wrest back their old homeworld from the TI and beating in a home on their new homeworld. The ship tilted slightly. She stared at the prow markings. Using her omni-tool, she took a snapshot.

"Tess, West is awake," Challa said behind her.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from the ship. "Have you seen such a ship before?"

"No. But Council will have to explain," he said dismissively. "Come." He walked away without bothering to see if she was following.

She made a face at his back. Was he expecting her to mimic the submissiveness of batarian females? Scrape, cower and bow. Fetch and carry. Bark. Roll over. Granted, she had never encountered a batarian female before so she couldn't tell if they behaved as she imagined them to. That specie was a very very rare breed, hardly seen in Citadel space. Challa's attitude towards her clearly illustrated what place they held in batarian society. Or perhaps Challa was just being uniquely pushy around her. Taking a last look at the ship, she made her way back to the medbay. It was empty. She stared at the empty medbeds. Where were the children? The C-Sec guards were gone too. Did they take the children away?

She stopped a passing medtech. "Where are the children?"

"They ran off," said the medtech.

"Ran off?"

"I don't know why but they just jumped off the beds and rushed out. The C-Sec officers couldn't stop them. They're chasing them down now but I doubt they can round them up." The medtech shrugged and moved on.

At least West was still at his medbed. Malon, she saw, was standing by him with Challa. The salarian must be feeling better.

"How are you feeling?" she asked Malon when she reached them.

"Mild headache, otherwise all working as normal." Malon flexed his arms and fingers. His colour was better too, she saw. Not so sickly green.

"What happened down there?" she asked. "I thought you and West went off to rescue the children. Instead we found you lot unconscious out at the maintenance corridor."

"We did. We were blocked by a wall of energy and had to take a detour."

"And?"

Malon blinked at her. "I...don't remember. We were taking one of the side passageways when-," he cocked his head, "nothing."

"Nothing?" she echoed in disbelief. "Did something knock you out?"

"I don't know. You can ask him." Malon pointed at Westir who had remained silent, staring up at the ceiling.

"West?"

He frowned. "I saw...," he said faintly, trying to recall. "The children..it's so bright. I think they were trapped in a lattice of energy, they couldn't get out. That's why they used the comm devices I left behind."

"How did we get them out?" asked Malon.

"I don't think we did."

"What?" They stared at him in confusion.

"Were you magically transported to that maintenance corridor then?" Tessie said skeptically.

"No..no.." West pushed himself upright. "It was the Keepers."

"You're making less sense now. Are you sure you're not seeing things?"

"There were Keepers. I know what I saw," Westir insisted.

"Come on, West," Tessie said patiently. "Keepers only bother turning the station upside down, they don't bother with people." Keepers were rumored to throw dead bodies into protein vats too but she didn't think it was a good idea to mention it.

"Believe what you want but I know what I saw," Westir said firmly, lying down again to pull the blanket over himself. The other three exchanged uncertain looks, not certain their colleague wasn't hallucinating.

Perhaps if they changed the subject, Tessie decided. "West, why did you alter your medical record?"

"Leave me alone." Westir turned away.

Malon gestured to Tessie, tugging at her arm when she didn't move. "Why don't we come back later?" he said once they moved away. "He's just had that treatment, let him rest."

"He wouldn't be having that if he hadn't set his mind on dying," Tessie said loudly, ignoring Malon's frantic waves for silence. "Stepping out the airlock is so much convenient than prolonged pain. Who in his right mind would want to do that to himself?!"

"I think it's time we report in to Drake," said Challa. "Come." He grabbed Tessie's arm and pulled her out of the medbay.

Citadel Council Chambers

"You cannot be serious," Sparatus stared at Tevos, lower jaw agape. "The Rachni?!"

Looking around the table, Tevos tried to gauge her fellow councilors' responses. As usual Valern's countenance was deadpan but the pupils of his eyes had shrunk. The idea clearly did not appeal to him. Flewinnie, on the other hand, only looked thoughtful. It was possible she would support the idea. Would they break even? She'd to try for unanimous vote. Trying to run it by the Conclave would be bogged down with endless debates.

"You know as well I do the fleet cannot function without reserves," said Tevos. "With half the Alliance ships gone, the fleet is strained to the limits to carry out their responsibilities. The crews' ability to carry out their assignments might snap under the load. When that happens, we will lose more."

"I propose we ask the geth to deploy more ships," said Valern.

"They don't have the ships." Tevos wondered if Valern was being stubborn for stubborn's sake. "They have deployed their remaining resources to scout for Cerberus presence in the outer systems," she said, "because we asked them to. Councilors, we have spent too much talking..."

"Still the Rachni.," Sparatus rumbled dubiously.

"Please. We failed to take credible action on the Prothean scrambler..."

"I will once again reiterate more time is needed to.," began Valern stiffly.

"Please let me finish." Tevis tried hard not to snap at the salarian as the other two stared coolly at him at that reminder. "Our credibility is at stake because of our failure to convince the majority on the issue. The effectiveness of the device is now a moot point. We have run out of time in regards to the TI. The struggle here on, is now a matter of brute strength. Additionally, with the possibility of Cerberus entering the fray, we can ill afford to lose our central bastion. Anarchy will take precedence. We have to move swiftly on this. We must present a united consensus when this proposal is presented to Council Conclave."

"The krogans will never agree," Flewinnie pointed out.

"Theirs is but one vote." Tevos glanced at Sparatus who was clearly wavering. "If all of us agree on this, the rest of the Conclave will follow accordingly. The krogans can only file a protest. Councilors, this is an opportunity to draw the Rachni into the fold. If we allow them to come and go as they please, if they withdraw into the shadows, we will forever remain blind and ignorant of their future intentions."

Sparatus flinched. Valern stared at the ceiling. Neither relished the thought of another Rachni War.

"Would they abide by Council laws?" asked Flewinnie. "Would the other races accept them?"

"We have to try. Their willing cooperation to return the Citadel to its place of origin indicate they are open to discussion." Tevos glanced at the other two. "Councilors?"

"I agree, we have to make the attempt," said Flewinnie. "I'm in. Sparatus?"

"Very well," he said grudgingly.

"I hope you know what you're doing," said Valern before shrugging. "You have my vote."