Allers: So you let the Commander see the results of your work?

Ashley: Yeah, it sounded like it didn't go so well for the Commander, so we gave her something to smile about.

Allers: But when it comes down to it though, you got the garage pass.

Ashley: We did and that's where we carry on from.

We were still sat at our table when the Commander came to pay us a visit.

"I see you're having fun Chief."

"Commander?"

"The alcohol, you're on duty Chief."

"It's just for show; no one sits in a bar with no drink. They haven't been touched."

"So you're all stone cold sober then, not a drop of alcohol?"

"Yes ma'am, we're ready to set out."

"Good, let's get going."

We moved out straight back down the elevator. Where we were met by the rest of the team in the lobby. They were clearly frustrated with their lack of success; obviously the Hanar hadn't been helpful. We all headed out from there towards the garage, with Tali telling everyone about our exploits into Synthetic Insights. Wrex was furious having missed all the action so he clung to every word that Tali said. Once we reached the garage we showed our pass to the security and made our way in, only to be attacked by Geth. It was clear the Matriarch was still on the planet. They had the element of surprise but we definitely had superior numbers. The battle in front of us didn't take that long, you could see the disappointment on Wrex's face. He wanted a fight and he didn't get one worthy of him. It was at this point that Noveria Security decided to show up, of course they were suspicious of everything that had happened, who wouldn't be. But they were unclear on what happened, not wanting to blame the Matriarch on the attack by Geth, they hardly even believed that, even if there were Geth bodies everywhere. Whilst the Commander was talking with security we went to check on the transport that would get us to Peak 15. It was a Mako, only big enough for three people. This meant that three of us would be left behind again.

"I see you've noticed our transport team."

"Yes ma'am, who's going with you?"

"I'm taking Liara and Shiala on this one, everyone else should return to the Normandy. Dismissed."

"Shepard, would you not rather take Alenko or Williams?"

"No Liara, you need to do this. This is your mother after all, it's time to end this."

We watched the Mako leave the garage and we all turned and made our way back towards the Normandy. Whilst we walked Garrus linked in with Joker and let him know the situation, whereas I linked in with Liara on a private line.

"Liara, it's Ash., are you okay?"

"Not really, as much as I know I need to do this, I'd much rather be returning to the Normandy with you and Tali."

"You'll be fine Liara, just remember you've got Shepard and Shiala there to watch your back, this should be when Shiala shows her true colours just remember that and you'll be fine. Just close your eyes and take deep breaths."

"Okay, thanks Ash. I'll see you back on the Normandy."

We ended the call quickly and then I linked in with Shiala.

"Shiala it's Ash."

"Williams, I take it your here to offer words of advice."

"No not really. I just want to know whether you're ready for this to actually turn on the Matriarch that you've been loyal to years before Saren came around."

"I think so, only time will tell."

With that I ended the call and headed back to the Normandy with Tali. We'd had our orders to return to the Normandy which we did, once on board Garrus headed straight to the cockpit to fill in Joker with what wasn't said over the comms. Wrex and Kaiden both left presumably for the cargo bay so they could practice with their biotics. Which left me and Tali to ourselves so naturally we headed to the mess, technically this was down time for us. We'd been sitting and talking to each other for over an hour when we received a communication from the Commander.

"We've managed to get the communications up and running on the station, now trying to establish the tram way between facilities. We'll be in touch when we're on the move again."

They'd been gone an hour and hadn't even reached the correct facility yet, from the sounds of things they were going to be a while yet. We'd moved away from the mess and had moved into our quarters for more privacy when a communication came through on my omni-tool. Opening up it was from an unknown source and marked urgent. After opening it up it simply read.

Meet me at the hotel bar in twenty minutes alone. Gianna Parasini.

With that I left and went in search of Garrus, Pressley may have technically been the XO of the ship but everybody turned to Garrus first. Even if the ship was Alliance Garrus was Shepard's right hand. An instant bond had formed and they had become friends straight away. Garrus of course could be found in the cargo bay next to our Mako.

"Garrus, you here."

"Can it wait Chief, I'm in the middle of some calibrations."

"Not this time Garrus. I need to go planet side for a while."

"Is it Shepard?"

"No, I've received word from Gianna Parasini she wants to meet me."

"You taking anyone with you?"

"No, she wants me all to herself."

"Now there's an image. Go ahead make sure your back before Shepard though."

"Yes sir."

"Oh and let Pressley know."

With Garrus' approval I then went in search of Pressley who was never too far away from CIC. Of course I'd have to approach him like I hadn't already got permission of Garrus, it wouldn't do to let the brass now what was really happening. It didn't take long to have Pressley convinced and with that I had permission twice over. Before I left though I went down to the armoury to pick up a pistol and then headed out. It wouldn't do to go shore side without protection. This time though there was no problem with security as they now had orders from the administrative board to let any of the Commanders ground crew to go through unhindered. Whilst waiting for the elevator to reach the correct floor I received another message.

I'm in the executive lounge to the rear; they know to let you in. Just tell them that you're here to see Jack Harper, they'll understand.

Jack Harper was a name that I wasn't familiar with, but it was definitely a weird name for Gianna to be going under. Never the less my curiosity had been picked and I was going to see this through. When the elevator reached the hotel floor I immediately headed towards the rear of the bar and found two humans guarding a door. Each of them a pistol strapped to their thighs and shotguns in their hands. These were definitely trained well, they both could have easily been N7 operatives but here they were on Noveria. I moved straight on over to them and told them the pass phrase.

"I'm here to see Jack Harper."

"You're expected."

With those two words they admitted me into the executive lounge and followed the corridor towards the open area. My hand was never far away from my gun and the close I got the more ready I was to use it. Once in the open area at the rear I looked around to find Gianna Parasini, as I scanned the room I saw a hand shoot up and wave me over from the far corner that must be Gianna.

"Gunnery Chief I'm glad you made it."

"Gianna, I have to admit I'm rather curious as to what you want."

"I have a proposition for you from my employers."

"What does the Noveria Administrative board want from me?"

"Oh, I don't work for the Administrative board. I work for someone else entirely."

"You lied to us when we went after Anoleis. Who do you really work for?"

"Ever heard of Cerberus."

"It sounds familiar, why did you want Anoleis removed?"

"In order to make way for someone who would be more lenient towards humanity, the fact that Anoleis was dirty was just an added bonus. You see we want humanity to come out on top and we'll do anything towards that end."

"And what do you want from me?"

"We want your help, one of our operatives is stuck of world and we'd like for you to pick her up and take her to the Citadel."

"Why me?"

"Because we already have a working relationship, you'll get the job done and I know you're more curious then you let on. Of course we'll also be paying you for this."

"You'll pay me. I'm not a mercenary for hire. I'm Alliance through and through."

"And that is why we want you. Just call it an added bonus. You're a soldier Williams but unlike mercenaries you have a conscious. Will you do this?"

"How exactly am I to ask the Commander to pick up an unknown person on another world?"

"Simple she's in distress, the unit that she was with was attacked by a Thresher Maw and she's still stuck on the planet."

"Okay, I understand we'll just be helping a damsel in distress. Give me the co-ordinates."

"Cerberus will be in your debt. If you're interested we may have more work for you, if you'd be willing."

"Who am I retrieving?"

"That is not up to me to say. You'll find her at these co-ordinates, she'll tell you anything you need to know."

"You're not going to tell me. Hmmph suppose I'd best get gone."

"Before you go, these are yours. The first is a credit chit with your payment on, the second is a secure communicator. If you need to contact us or we need to contact you, this is secure enough that no one will be able to hack into it. Good luck Gunnery Chief."

I left the executive suite rather confused. A secret human organisation wanted me to help them retrieve their operative and have already paid me for the job. Plus they may want me for other jobs later on. I wasn't a mercenary and never wanted to be and this felt like mercenary work. But it was to save a damsel in distress it felt like a good mission. Defeat a Thrasher Maw and take the damsel back home. We were going to do it even if I had to make Shepard see sense.

"Williams, Shepard is on her way back to the Normandy, get your ass back here."

Ah great, I'd have to double time it back in order to make it look like I'd never left. Admittedly it didn't take that long to get back to the Normandy due to the hotel bar not being that far away from the port. I arrived back and went straight to my quarters in order to think things over. Before I knew it the Commander was back and had asked to see me in her quarters ASAP. With her quarters only just round the corner from my own it only took a couple of seconds to reach them where she was waiting for me.

"Come in Williams and explain to me where you went."

"I got a message from Gianna Parasini of Noveria Internal Affairs, she wanted our help again."

"What does she want?"

"They have an operative stuck on Edolus, the Alliance unit that she was with were attacked by a Thresher Maw. She wants us to retrieve the operative and take her to the Citadel."

"How do we know she's alive?"

"She didn't say. But from the sounds of it she knew she was still alive."

"We need to head to the Citadel now anyway, so we'll make a drop of at Edolus before we leave and see if we can find some answers."

"Thank you Commander."

"Ash, don't start working for Noveria Internal Affairs as well, the Alliance has already claimed you."

"Don't worry Commander, I won't. This is just a favour."

"Good, go tell Joker his new co-ordinates and then you'll need to check in on Liara and Shiala. They're in the med bay, it didn't go as planned."

Shit. I rushed up to the cockpit and told Jeff the plan. Once he had locked the co-ordinates in and given us an ETA. I ran back down towards the med bay. Once inside I approached Dr Chakwas and asked where Liara and Shiala were, all I received was the Doctor pointing towards the opposite door leading into Liara's room. I opened the door and stepped inside and approached the two Asari.

"Liara, Shiala are you okay?"

"We're fine physically speaking but that's it."

"What happened?"

"My mother attacked us. She accused Shepard of bringing us along so that we would appeal to her better half. Then she attacked us..."

"...It's okay Liara, I'll finish. The Matriarch attacked us and sent Asari Commando's at us. It didn't go down well. It took us a while to fight the Commando's but once they were gone we approached the Matriarch. She used her biotics in order to throw the Commander into the wall knocking her out. What came next she doesn't know, nor should you."

"Tell her Shiala. I trust her."

"Very well. I don't know how much you know about the Asari Williams. There is a secret sect of Asari called the Ardat-Yakshi. The condition is only found among the pureblood Asari, it isn't common anymore but it's still rather bad. On Thessia if someone is found to be an Ardat-Yakshi then they are given a choice. Execution or Isolation. In an Ardat-Yakshi the urge to mate becomes stronger and stronger until you have no choice but to find someone. Upon mating with them you end up completely dominating and taking over the nervous system and ultimately causing a brain haemorrhage causing death. The only problem is this condition is very addictive. Each time becoming more and more powerful."

"As interesting as the history lesson is, what's the point?"

"Liara is an Ardat-Yakshi, she has only just come into her maturity and her mother could tell the moment she saw her. Only the Matriarchs could tell whether an Asari was an Ardat-Yakshi. No one on board this vessel can know, not even the Commander. If people were to find out then it could end badly."

"What do we do?"

"There is nothing we can do. We must leave Liara to herself. Meditation is what she needs once she manages to complete this and gain control can she come back to us. This may take a long time to learn, but with help she may be able to do it quicker. When we reach the Citadel I'm going to reach out to someone who is an expert on the field and could help."

"Okay. Liara?"

"I always knew this was a possibility Ash, but I didn't expect it to arrive so quickly. If you can tell the Commander that I'm quarantining myself in here, I can't have her coming round for our midnight talks whilst I'm not in control."

"I will. What does Dr Chakwas know?"

"Shiala told her that I've picked up an Asari based disease which affects my DNA causing outbreaks. It isn't contagious but I'm going to have to keep myself locked away for the moment. Only you and Shiala are allowed in."

"Right I'd best go tell the Commander then. We'll be reaching the Citadel later than expected, were going to Edolus first to retrieve someone for Gianna Parasini. Luckily they're also heading to the Citadel."

A/N I'll admit this is great. My favourite chapter of this story, it was so much easier to write then sticking to the game. Who'd have thought Gianna Parasini is Cerberus, oh and that Liara T'Soni is an Ardat-Yakshi, but here we are. Wait a minute isn't Ashley also technically Cerberus? Boom. I'm loving it. This was great, I have many more ideas to follow up on now that I'm not following the game per-say. Let me know what you think. So till next time.