Allers: Nothing happened.

Ashley: What do you mean nothing happened?

Allers: All you did was arrive on the citadel.

Ashley: In the grand scheme of things for you maybe that's all that happened. But for me and Miri, this was a massive step in the right direction. Call me a romantic if you must. But personally this was a big moment in my life. So don't you try and belittle it.

Allers: I'm sorry Commander. I realise we asked for you tell everything and not everything is going to be interesting to everyone. Now you ended with someone being found, care to elaborate.

It had only been a few minutes since the message had come through, since then Miranda hadn't moved a muscle.

"Miri, who've they found?"

"They've found my...my...sister."

"Your sister?"

"My father is a genetic scientist he created me. Made to be perfect, too perfect. I rebelled and left. I only found out recently that he had carried on with his work and created another. My sister. From the intel I could gather she's being kept in a cryogenic sleep as she matures. Having never seen the light of day she won't know how cruel my father actually is. We need to save her."

"I'll help Miri. We're already kitted and ready for action. Just get the coordinates of your informant."

Miranda's hands moved quickly over her omni-tool as she contacted her informant. I couldn't image how she was feeling; knowing that she had a sister but couldn't do anything to help her must have been torture. I don't know if I'd manage to stay so calm if I was in her position. My sisters meant the world to me, without them I don't know where I'd be.

"They're on Omega."

"Of course they are. Who's your informant?"

"Aria T'Loak."

"That's not who I was expecting."

"Me neither."

"I suppose we'd best get going then."

"When we get to Omega Ash, follow my lead and remember your alias."

Shortly after we left the Cerberus safe house and headed back towards the docking ports and the ship which we were given. Luckily we didn't have to waste any time with leaving procedures, the perks of being Cerberus apparently. We hit the Mass Relay and the ships VI did everything else that was needed before reaching Omega. We moved out of the cock pit and moved into the mess area. Miranda was lost deep in thought, once she'd processed everything she'd snap out of it. Which left me with the book of Tennyson again. Who knows hopefully I might be able to read it this time. But alas that was not to be the case.

"Williams, come in."

Trust Shepard to get in contact now.

"Shepard."

"We're on our way back to the Citadel, what's your status?"

"On the move, we've just left the Citadel."

"When are you coming back Chief?"

"Once the missions over, shouldn't be too long now Commander."

"I take it you won't be back on the Citadel soon then?"

"No."

"Okay, we're having a quick pit stop then we've got to move. We're heading to Virmire; it's about time we acted on the Council's instructions."

"Understood Commander. How's Liara?"

"She says she's feeling better, but she's still confined herself to her quarters. Shiala is still with her."

"Understood. We'll try and catch you up at Virmire, no promises though."

"Understood Chief. Shepard out."

Well that went as well as could be expected. At least now I know where they'll be once this over. Save Miranda's sister and then rejoin with the Normandy. Sounds simple, if it wasn't for the whole Aria T'Loak aspect of it all.

"Did that go as well as expected Ash?"

"Miranda, you've been listening this whole time?"

"Of course I stopped processing once you started reading Tennyson again. Are you ever going to finish that book?"

"One day I hope to, but life is full of interruptions at the moment. In answer to your previous question it went better than I expected. I'm still worried about Liara though."

"Liara?"

"An Asari, she's recently found out she is an Ardat-Yakshi and from everything Shiala has told me, it's not good."

"It's not regardless of what happens. From what we understand those that want to fight their condition end up moving to a place called the Monastery. Where they meditate and stay away from others, therefore managing their condition. Whereas those who accept their condition are hunted down and killed. Once they've accepted it they end up doing anything to keep it, mainly murder. Either way the condition isn't good."

"How do you know this?"

"As I said we've had dealings with such creatures."

"Do you know of any way to help her condition?"

"None, she would be better off at the Monastery. I know that's not what you want to hear Ash, but it's only known way to save her."

"Thanks Miri. What about your sister?"

We moved over to the available seating, where clearly the comfort of being around each other had already set in as Miranda moved in close and rested her head against by shoulder, placing my arm around her I completed the movement.

"Apart from seeing Aria, I don't know. I suppose it all depends on what she wants in return."

"I take it she's expecting us."

"Of course."

"So what do we do know then?"

"There's nothing we can do until we reach Omega. I'm going to get some sleep; we've got twelve hours until we reach Omega. Ash?"

"I'm running on fumes as well."

With that Miranda led the way into the sleeping quarters where we both promptly fell asleep.

I woke up in an empty bed. I remember falling asleep with Miranda wrapped in my arms, clearly she was an early riser, not that there was a night or day in space. It took me a while but I finally opened my eyes and sat up only to be greeted by Miranda sat opposite the bed watching.

"How long have you been sat there?"

"Long enough. You look really peaceful while you sleep. I could sit here and watch all night."

"I'd rather you be in here with me, Miri."

"I know, but alas that is not to be. Not now anyway. Come on we're here."

Miranda got up and moved closer and quickly slipped her arms around my naked torso and she quickly found my lips with hers. The contact didn't last long as we both knew that you don't keep Aria waiting. I quickly dressed and met Miranda by the airlock, once the decontamination process had been completed we headed out into Omega, only to be met by a Batarian. One of Aria's people come to collect us so we went straight to Aria instead of getting sidetracked. We followed our new companion through Omega and into Afterlife. This was my first time on Omega and I felt repulsed. The sights of Omega were bad and the smells were even worse. Once we were back on board I'd need a shower as well as going through decontamination. Luckily it didn't take us long to reach Afterlife, we had no trouble gaining entry as Aria was expecting us. The Batarian took us to the back of the club and into Aria's private booth.

"Ms Lawson, who's the lackey?"

"I am not anyone's lackey. And I bet you already know exactly who I am."

"Correct, Gunnery Chief Williams. I do. I also know that I only asked for Ms Lawson to be present."

"You don't always get what you want. You said you know where my sister is."

"Hmmm, I do. She's here on Omega, as well as your father."

"And. I need more than that."

"I know and this is where my favour comes in. If I give you this then you owe me one, maybe not today but at some point I will all in my marker."

"I'm aware, now tell me where my sister is."

"Here, her location is on the data pad. You'd best be quick they'll be leaving soon."

Miranda took one look at the data pad, downloaded the location to her omni-tool and set off. The location given was only a couple of minutes away from Afterlife, but with the state of Omega it took us longer than it should have. We reached the building that Miranda's sister was being held in and immediately drew our weapons. After looking round the building the only viable access point was the front door, which would no doubt be alarmed, but then again this was Omega. We moved to the door and used some omni-gel on the lock. Once inside we moved forwards towards the only room in the building. From our viewpoint we could see the back of a life support machine and several man wandering around.

"Come on, Mr Lawson is expecting us to have moved his daughter within the hour, the transport will be here in ten. Get moving."

Well that settled it, Miranda's father wasn't here and we only had ten minutes to get her out of there. Miranda laid out the plan, we were to move forward silently incapacitate those we could before reviving Miranda's sister. The plan was fool proof up until the last man. We managed to sneak in and silently take out what we thought were all the guards. What we didn't realise was that the last man had created a crow's nest up high and had set his sights on us. The first shot hit my shields and completely drained them, we quickly got into cover and tried to find the direction in which the shot came from. It took a while and several shots later the sniper was found and quickly defeated. This just left us with Miranda's sister. We couldn't just move the pod that she was, not the two of us anyway, we had to wake her up.

"Miranda, how do we get her out?"

"Give me a minute."

"We may not have a minute, just open the pod and get her out."

"What do you mean we may not have a minute?"

"Miri, this Omega. Who knows what could happen?"

"Good point, opening the pod."

With Miranda's knowledge it didn't take long before the pod was open and its inhabitant was out. As soon as the filtered air hit her lungs she was awake, not knowing what was going on. She took one look at the devastation around her and fainted.

"We need to go Miri and get her of the station."

"Lead the way. I'll carry her."

Strangely enough we didn't encounter any resistance as we made our way back towards our ship, clearly the residents of Omega had heard the gunfire and left. But of course this wasn't true, down the side streets there were all the residents gawking at the three individuals making their way through the streets. We had almost made it back to the ship when the attack came. With Miranda still carrying her sister, it left me in charge of our defence. Unfortunately for us our attackers had the high ground, leaving us pinned down in the middle of the street. We moved quickly to the side of a building and stayed under cover. The attackers never gave us a chance to return fire, the barrage was just constant and it was eating at our cover. The next surprise was our saving grace, another force had moved behind those that were attacking us, in the confusion between the two sides we made our escape. We managed to reach the ship without any more incidents, once inside Miranda placed her sister on a bed and headed straight towards the helm. Within a few minutes we were back in space and heading towards the relay. The co-ordinates were the Citadel and once in the relay Miranda left the ship to pilot itself whilst we checked on her sister.

"How do you want to do this Miri?"

"I don't know Ash, I think it would best if you went in on your own. Then I'll decide afterwards."

"Are you sure this is how you want to play it?"

"I am."

"Ok, you know I'm here Miri. If you want anything."

"Thanks Ash, I'll be in the security office watching the feed. Just don't tell her about Cerberus."

"Naturally."

I walked straight through to the room where Miranda placed her sister. She was still out cold, so I decided to sit by the bed and wait. It didn't take long until she came around, the situation reminded me of the morning where it had been Miranda and I, but this was her sister.

"Welcome back."

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"First all of how much do you remember?"

"I remember waking up and being surrounded by death."

"And before that?"

"Before that, there's nothing. I don't remember anything."

"Do you know your name?"

"Of course I know my name. It's Oriana Lawson."

"Well then Oriana, I'm Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams."

"Military?"

"Yes. The Alliance."

"That's not everything though is it?"

"It's all I'm authorised to tell you."

"Why am I here?"

"Your here because you have nowhere else to go, we came across you in a warehouse on Omega, you were drugged and kept in a pod."

"You're making that up."

"Why would I lie to you about this?"

"I don't know. There were two of you before, where's your partner?"

"She's watching the live feed of this conversation."

"Is she going to join us?"

"No. Is there anything else you want to know Oriana?"

"Where are we going?"

"The Citadel. You should be safe there; we'll set you up with a foster family. And you'll never see us again."

"Just like that, you save me from imprisonment and just leave. No explanations no nothing."

"Exactly, it's the safe option."

"Safe for whom?"

"All of us. No arguments."

"Fine, how long..."

"ETA ten minutes."

I left Oriana and headed towards the helm where Miranda would be. I walked in and sealed the door so Oriana wouldn't be able to enter.

"What do you think Miri?"

"I don't know Ash, she's my sister even if she doesn't know it. But this will be for the best, you were right she can't stay with us."

"Why don't you go talk to her?"

"I can't that wouldn't be right. She'd want to stay here, we can't have that. Not with our line of work."

"So what's going to happen once we dock with the Citadel?"

"There's a foster couple coming to meet you and Oriana once we've docked, they were informed of our arrival and should be waiting for you."

"Are you really sure this is what you want?"

"No, it's not what I want. But it's what has to happen."

"Ok. I'll go make sure Oriana is ready."

I turned to leave but before I could move towards the door Miranda grabbed me and pulled me close. The embrace was warm and heartfelt and lasted for what seemed forever. Before Miranda broke away her lips brushed mine and we broke out into a deep passionate kiss. Letting our hands roam until Miranda pulled away.

"We are doing the right thing aren't we Ash?"

"We're doing the only thing we can Miri."

A/N I promise we're going back to the Normandy in the next chapter. That's enough original content for the moment. Also I've got to say my fight scenes aren't that great. I don't really know how to write them. More to come.