Chapter 13

The flashbang caught her by surprise. Miranda's shield protected her from the force of it, but not the noise. She grunted when her ears started ringing as she was thrown back against the shuttle wall. She had been expecting Kai Leng's betrayal from the start, but she had thought that he would try and get her shuttle first.

The best laid out plans…

She recovered quickly and reached for her biotics, allowing her power to build. He was on her a second later, a knife in hand but she thrust her power out and threw him back across the corridor. She didn't want him in her space because he was a devil when it came to hand-to-hand combat, but she also had nowhere else to go.

Kai recovered as fast as she expected him to. Even as she rushed forward to get out of the docking tube, he was moving in on her again. Miranda gathered her power and threw it at him, but this time his body shimmered as it hit his shield and he kept moving forward. Miranda's pistol was in her hand. She raised it to fire at him but Kai Leng disarmed her and caught her by the hair.

He slammed her into the wall.

"We're working on a few new toys," he sneered at her as he moved to hit her again. "Not very effective yet, but…" he was cut off when Miranda formed a singularity around herself, something he had not seen her do before. This time, his new shielding didn't work. The singularity lifted him from his feet. She twisted out of his grip, not caring about her hair.

Miranda flinched when she heard a tearing sound from her scalp.

"I've been playing with a few new toys myself," she said. She used the opportunity to move out of Kai's reach, rather than retrieve her pistol. "You should have just come with me Kai, like a good little boy."

She dashed out of the tube and into the open area of the docks. A batarian guard, who had come closer to see what the fuss was about, blinked in surprise when Miranda rushed him and grabbed his semi-automatic pistol.

"I'll take this," she snapped and wrapped him up in her biotics. She tossed him across the area away from the fight and turned, searching for Kai Leng near the docking tube. Thick smoke was pouring out of it, obscuring her view. She considered letting loose a burst of fire. The growing bustle of civilians and guards responding to the violence around her made her pause. She had never cared for a high body count. Never cared for unnecessary loss. She moved to the side and kept her attention on the smoke. Her power burned inside her, ready to be called on in a heartbeat. She didn't think Kai would take this time to flee, no he was too…

A flashbang went off beside her, tearing down her shield. She didn't see where it came from. Miranda barely managed to find reach to her biotics when a fist came out of nowhere and punched her in her left kidney. A searing pain burned through her, causing her to cry out in a mixture of shock and pain. Still, she moved, managing to block the next blow as another small explosion went off, this one being too late to do any damage.

"Another toy Kai?" She punched up, catching him on the jaw as he tried to reach behind her back, quite possibly to break her neck.

"An old trick," he hissed and tried to sweep her off her feet. Miranda slammed her fists together in a trick she had picked up from Jack. It created a powerful shockwave that tossed Kai a few feet away from her. He dropped, turned and recovered his footing quickly. She barely had time to breathe before he stormed at her. This time though, she had a clear view of him and enough space to manoeuvre. Miranda picked him up with her biotics, closed her fist in the air and slammed him down onto the floor, more roughly this time.

"I'm not interested in killing you Kai," she yelled out. "But you had to go and make it personal! I'd have let you walk."

On the ground, Kai chuckled and rolled away as her biotics dissipated. Miranda prepared to grab him but she had accidentally dropped him too close to some boxes which he now used as cover.

"Really Lawson, I am not that stupid," he said as thick smoke exploded around him, obscuring him from her view and covering another area in the warehouse in a shroud of invisibility. "Did you really think that we'd just shake hands on this? That I would go back to the Illusive Man's side and give him your regards?"

Miranda's heart missed a beat when she realised, she had lost sight of him again. That wasn't part of the plan; she planned to pick him up. She stepped back from the smoke, heard shouts behind her as more security stormed into the area.

Damn it, she thought. Not that disorganised after all.

The Blue Suns controlled these docks. They didn't take disturbances lightly as it could be bad for business. Miranda took a quick look behind her to make sure they didn't become a part of the problem when a dark shadow leapt out of the smoke. She had her biotics ready and sent out a wave of dark energy to capture him but she had forgotten about his modified shield.

Damn it, Lawson! She tried to block the blow but as she expected, Kai was better at close quarters fighting. His elbow connected with the back of her skull and she dropped, her knees buckling under her as the world turned black. A breath later, she was on her back, raising her pistol but Kai snatched it from her hands and pinned her wrists above her head. He quickly got on top of her now, pinning her to the floor. There was a hum from his shield belt and a knife in his hand.

"Truth is, Lawson," he spat, his voice low as his dark eyes bore into hers. "Your blood is in the water. Every single agent out there has orders to bring you in. Orders to do so alive. But you see," he chuckled as she struggled to get out of his grip and buck him off her chest. "You see, I've learned my lesson on this very asteroid. You kill the rabid dog when you have it in your hands. I didn't do it with Paul when I brought him in though," he chuckled. "I did kill that blue cunt he was sleeping with. I wish I had had the chance to tell him that. I wish he could have been in a place where he would still have cared. I learned my lesson there, oh yes. I should have killed Paul." The knife touched her throat, the cool steel already biting into her flesh. "So, consider yourself lucky, I'm not going to make the same mistake with you." He brought his face close to hers as she went quiet and stared at him, not daring to move.

"In what world, Lawson, did you think you could best me?"

Miranda smiled at him.

"In what world, Kai," she breathed, her voice low. "Did you think I'd let you win?"

She flicked her wrist. There was a burst of electricity from her omnitool. Miranda's eyes were closed. Even through her closed lids could she feel the searing warmth as it raced across her cheeks.

Kai Leng cried out, his wrists leaving hers as he slapped at his face. Miranda pushed herself up forcefully. She used her biotics to tear him away from her. Her hand made a grab for the shield belt around his waist. Another pulse from her omnitool sent sparks dancing around it and the hum it produced died. In the time it took her to take her first breath, Miranda raised her hands and held Kai Leng suspended in the air with no intention of letting him go.

There were shouts around her now. Fierce orders for her to put her weapon down. Miranda didn't have a weapon anymore and raised her hands in the air.

"I demand to see Aria T'loak!" She called. "I have vital information about the death of her d…" She almost said it but remembered herself. "The death of her top agent, Liselle. I will only discuss this with her. I am no threat to you and yours. This man is with Cerberus however, so you can be assured that he is not your friend."

"Neither are you!" A turian called. "Stand down! I will drop you!"

Miranda stood her ground because she didn't want to lose Kai. He was struggling against her bonds, straining to get loose. She could not hold him indefinitely, but she hoped she would be able to do it long enough.

"She lies!" Kai yelled; his face was a burned mess. "This is Miranda Lawson! I'm a bounty hunter sent to bring her in. She is the most hunted criminal in Citadel space! I will give a million credits to anyone who brings me her head."

Touché Kai.

Miranda shifted slowly to make sure that she wasn't going to be ambushed. The amount made the gathering crowd murmur but a hard-faced batarian laughed.

"Pay up front, fancy man," he demanded, his four eyes meeting Miranda's in challenge. "Then you have a deal."

"Catok!" Another voice snapped. "Stand down!" A human, bearing the Blue Suns command insignia stepped forward, the glow of his omnitool fading. He walked right up to Miranda, his grey eyes meeting hers. He looked old enough to be her father. His eyes were hard.

"I recognize you," he said. "I know that man's not lying."

Miranda's mouth thinned but she inclined her head as if he had paid her some respect.

"I'm not letting him go," she pointed out. "He is very deadly."

The mercenary turned his gaze upwards, his mouth thinning as he studied Kai's damaged face.

"Blind, he probably isn't," he said and raised a hand, signalling to a few of his men to move to Kai's position. "You did a number on his face…" His gaze travelled down to her side. "But then again he did quite a number on you." His eyes narrowed. "You should know, no matter who you are, you can't simply yell out to meet Aria and get an appointment."

Miranda stood her ground. Now that she wasn't actively fighting for her life, she became aware of the burning pain in her side. Making it very clear what she intended to do, she slowly moved her hand to her side and put pressure on the wound.

"She is going to want to hear what I have to say," she said slowly, forcing herself to keep her tone neutral. "If you understand who I am, then you'll know I won't make such a request lightly."

The man stood his ground, meeting her gaze aggressively.

"See, Aria's quite keen on Cerberus these days," the human said. "But a lot of us here, a lot of us humans are not. We don't like it that you come here and upset a balance we've worked hard to achieve."

Miranda had to stop herself from snapping.

"I am not with Cerberus," she said through clenched teeth. "Not anymore."

The old man gave her a hard look. "No, you're with Shepard and she caused enough problems throughout our organisation the past few months. Rumour has it she even smuggled out Archangel and had him join her crew, that self-righteous turian bastard."

Clearly, they hadn't killed enough of the mercenaries when they saved Garrus from his predicament. Miranda pressed her hand against her side, feeling the blood seeping through the fabric of her gloves. This is what happens, she thought, if you think you're going on a suicide mission. You don't make plans for when you live.

"I'm not with Shepard anymore either," she said and spared a glance at Kai. He was surrounded by mercenaries now, though none of them was engaging with him while she held him suspended.

The pain in her side was causing her to lose focus on her biotics.

The mercenary with her chuckled. "Yeah, I figure that's a horse mad enough to leap from," he said and looked at his omnitool. "Even for someone like you. Now, you're one lucky bitch. See, I control this dock because I can make level-headed decisions. Turns out, Aria's busy with operations in the area and she's quite close. I'm not going to make a call on whether your information is valuable enough. Since that agent of hers got herself killed, she's been erratic enough. And I know she's pressed to get answers. I'll see if she can come down here and do it herself." He gave her a stern look. "If she says no, you'll be answering to my people for the mess you've made here and tossing dear Halmac like an old shoe. I don't care what your business is, I care that you made it mine. Let that man go, we'll handle him." He gave her a critical look. "Then you can sit down before you fall down."

Miranda took a moment to read the situation, but she could also feel her concentration on her biotics slipping.

"He is Cerberus and he is dangerous," she said when she noticed the amount of people around Kai Leng and the steady amount that had grown around her. She glanced at her omnitool and saw a simple message of four letters.

Safe.

Sighing, Miranda let her biotics go and dropped Kai to the floor. For the first time, she broke eye contact with her Blue Suns liaison and looked at her side. If she was a lesser person, she might well have been writhing in pain on the floor. Whatever Kai punched her with had torn across her flesh like lightning. In places, the skin had burst open, exposing flesh and seeping blood.

Miranda cleared her throat then looked at the man with a steady gaze.

"I'm fine," she said. "I don't need a seat." She looked to where the Blue Suns were subduing Kai. Even outnumbered and quite possibly blind from the burst of electricity that she had set off in his face, he was still putting up a fight, yelling protests.

"But I might need a drink when this is done."

The shuttle drifted into the cargo bay of a massive cruiser. Its docking was now controlled by the cruiser's VI. Admiral David Anderson sat on the one side of the shuttle, Kaylee Sanders beside him. The woman he loved, had not said a word since they left Omega. Her features were pale and drawn in pain. The monster, Paul Grayson had man-handled her enough to aggravate her old injuries and probably give her new ones. He doubted it was her physical pain that troubled her though.

He could do nothing about her mental anguish. Not now, not here in this moment.

He looked up at the pilot of the shuttle, who was now sitting across from him, relaxed and calm.

He was trying to remember when last he saw Dr T'soni. The only image he could bring to mind was of a young asari, sitting between Garrus and Wrex, too distraught to even cry. He didn't know Dr T'soni very well then, still didn't and it made him a little uneasy. She didn't look distraught now; in fact she was calm and smiling as she watched him. When they found her in the cockpit she promised to explain herself but only after they docked.

He didn't expect to find her aiding Miranda Lawson.

Hell, he hadn't really expected Miranda Lawson to aid him.

I probably owe her a favour now, he thought begrudgingly and looked to the shuttle door as it opened. Dr T'soni stood up and greeted the team of asari who were dressed like medical professionals. Anderson straightened when he realised they seemed a bit wary of her. The older matrons inclined their heads to Liara in a sign of respect rather than the other way round.

The maiden waved it off.

"I was told to thank you for your quick response," the archaeologist said and motioned to Kaylee Sanders. "She requires medical attention." Kahlee looked ready to protest at the statement, but Anderson reached out and touched her arm.

"Go," he said. "Kahlee you had it… rough down there."

She looked so lost when she stared at him that he leaned in and hugged her as tightly as he dared.

"I will be right with you," he whispered. "We are with friends now." He glanced at Liara and hoped she wouldn't make him into a liar. She was still standing by the shuttle entrance though she had moved out of the way of the medical personnel. An asari with a serene expression had joined them in the shuttle and made eye contact with Anderson, silently signalling to him that he should let Kahlee go. He did so reluctantly but gave her elbow an encouraging squeeze.

"I won't be far behind," he said. "I just need to speak to…" He wasn't sure if he could use Liara's name. "Her." Dr T'Soni smiled in amusement at the way he used the pronoun. Kahlee pushed away from him and looked to Liara.

"Have you heard any news?" She asked, her voice thin with tears. "Did they make it? Jack…" She trailed off when Liara shook her head.

"I will let you know as soon as I do," she said, though she didn't look worried. The way she stood there made it appear as though nothing was bothering her. Anderson realised she wasn't the same asari he saw at Shepard's funeral.

Kahlee looked at Liara and nodded numbly, her arm coming to her face so that she could rub at the tears in her eyes. The asari moved closer to her and put a hand on her arm.

"Here," she said in a surprisingly compassionate tone. "Let me help you." She guided Kahlee out of the shuttle and to an awaiting wheelchair. When they left them alone, Anderson found himself rising to his feet, but Liara shook her head and took a seat across from him, the shuttle door closing.

"Please, sit down Admiral. We need to talk."

He settled back and tried to tell himself that he could trust this asari, that she was among Shepard's closest confidants. It had even been suggested once that the two of them were in a relationship, but he had never seen any evidence of it.

"I didn't realise that you worked for Miranda Lawson," he said. "Your presence on Omega was a surprise."

Liara chuckled softly. "Technically, I was never on Omega," she said. "But I got a feeling that Miranda needed help and I was… closer than she realised." She motioned outside. "These are my people. You are safe here. They will give her the very best medical treatment the galaxy has to offer. If she needs it. Dr Gable is… quite capable. She saved a friend's life once."

Anderson snorted, still feeling a twinge of irritation when he thought of the veterinarian.

"She seems to have engrained herself in all aspects of Shepard's life," he said dryly then felt guilty because he doubted that her partner was still alive. That fight had been bigger than they had anticipated.

"Do you have any news?"

Liara's features sobered. "No, but I am listening. I haven't even heard from Miranda yet and…" She trailed off as she sat back, getting more comfortable. "I should tell you Admiral, though this venture was entirely Miranda's, she, technically works for me as well. She joined my side when Shepard was taken and has used my resources to remain below the radar, away from both the Alliance and Cerberus."

Anderson frowned at her and realised that this conversation was more important than he initially thought. "The last I heard, Dr T'soni, you were simply an information broker on Illium. I didn't realise you were so successful."

Liara took a steadying breath. "Admiral, this has got nothing to do with my work in Illium," she said slowly. "Nor the influence I had as an information broker there. I am…" She hesitated then her features hardened with resolve. "I am the Shadow Broker."

He wasn't expecting that.

"How?" he asked, thinking that not even his ex-colleagues on the council knew this. The Shadow Broker, though a troubling concept as an individual or an organisation, had never been a top priority. He was pretty sure Sparatus, with his lack of turian imagination, believed it all to be a hoax.

"Shepard helped me overthrow the previous Broker," Liara said. "I thought you might have heard I was looking for him…" She watched his features. "I see that you didn't. You were… very involved on the Citadel Council back then."

It was Dr Gable's words that came to him, full of accusations. "And don't think I don't know what you did when she came to you on the Citadel. She asked you for help and you denied her!" Anderson felt in his pocket, grateful that the veterinarian's note was still there.

"I see," he said to Liara. "What do you need from me?"

Liara's features softened. "I need you to know you can trust me," she said. "Nobody in the Alliance knows. Not even those on this ship know they really work for me. They just believe that I am a high operative. I need you to tell Admiral Stephen Hackett when he is ready to hear it. I confess to struggling to reach out to him. Miranda and I have been working on research and models predicting reaper movements and tactics. I will need access to the ruins on Mars and he is one of the only people I know with enough authority to grant me access."

Anderson gave her a look. "As an archaeologist or the Shadow Broker?" Mars might have been one of the biggest archaeological dig sites in Sol but it was also one of the most classified Alliance operations. A lot of work had been done there recently. Not a lot of it had to do with digging.

"Both," Liara said a bit haughtily. "There's no line between the two for me anymore."

It troubled Anderson to hear her say that. The Broker had always been an unknown force. David wondered how many lines she had crossed to get where she was.

How many more would she go through?

What about you? His conscience spoke to him. How many lines have you crossed for the sake of the greater good? You've gone rogue several times. You're not on the council anymore. How far have you gone to protect the world from the reapers? To protect Shepard?

He sighed and nodded. "I will do what I can and… I will keep your secret, Dr T'soni. Thank you for sending Miranda Lawson to assist us." Liara surprised him with a laugh.

"Oh, her involvement in your liberation was all her doing, Admiral." She pointed out. "She did this on her own accord." Her features softened. "She is not the villain the galaxy makes her out to be. I trust her to have my back. I have learned a lot from her." She glanced at her omnitool, a flare of worry crossing her features. "Though I have yet to hear from her."

Anderson had been about to ask. He looked at the shuttle door and stood up slowly. "I expect there will be more time for us to talk," he said. "As we await an update. For now, Dr T'soni, I would appreciate going to see Kahlee."

She nodded her leave, standing when the door opened.

"Thank you for your discretion, Admiral."

There was an asari outside who nodded at him the moment they made eye contact. Without saying a word, she indicated he should follow her. He wondered if they truly didn't know about Liara's tenure as the Shadow Broker. He made to go with his escort, then stopped and turned back to the asari standing in the shuttle.

"Why did you do it?" He asked. "The… choices that you made? Why?"

Her expression was painfully earnest.

"Same reason you got fired from the council," she said. "To help Shepard. I couldn't do it where I was." She shrugged and looked pensive. "There is more freedom in the shadows, out of the limelight. I imagine you'll agree with me."

He hated to admit it, but he did.

"No," Abby breathed when she saw Asura's limp form. "No no no." She stumbled forward, away from Patriarch's shadow. "Asura… Asura!" Did she shout? Did her lover's name echo through the clinic? She didn't know, couldn't imagine such a sound could have come from her yet it had.

Asura was lying in one of the emergency cubicles of the clinic. Her skin was pale in the bright light. There was a terrible wound on her neck, most likely the source of all the blood Abby saw. Two of the doctors were working on Asura, one staunching the blood flow as they removed the makeshift field bandage. The other slipping an oxygen mask over Asura's face. Abby knew them both as she had worked with them several times. She could not recall their names. As she barged into the cubicle, it felt as though she wasn't in control of her body. Her arms pushed an assistant away on their own accord, almost sending them tumbling to the ground. She could see Asura's eyes now, open, staring at the ceiling… No, not actively staring… Just…

She's dead…

A wail escaped her lips at the same time arms wrapped around her and pulled her back.

"Dr Gable!" A familiar voice yelled. "Dr Gable, you cannot be here!"

She had to.

Abby pushed forward with a strength she shouldn't have had, a strength this person had given her. It wasn't enough, stronger arms seized her and pulled her back. Abby tried to turn around and tear them from her but more hands grabbed her wrists. For the first time, she saw something other than her lover sprawled on that bed…

Daniel's face was a little wild as he forced her to look at him.

"Dr Gable," he spoke in a calm, insistent voice. "You know you cannot go in there. You can't help her."

Abby opened then closed her mouth, aware her vision was starting to blur.

"Daniel," she breathed. "Is she dead?!"

The doctor's features softened as he squeezed her wrists. "No," he said. "I promise you. She was injured, and she's suffered severe blood loss. We will take care of her Dr Gable. Please, go… go to my office. Please."

Abby didn't hear the last, her own heartbeat suddenly drumming in her ears as she took a breath and pulled away from Daniel's grip. There was still another holding her, Patriarch, she suspected, who had followed her to the clinic when she got the news that there had been trouble. Abby paid the krogan no mind as she settled her weight back on her heels and locked her knees. Her breathing felt like a rush in her own ears as her heartbeat continued to drown out all sound. She couldn't ask what happened.

She couldn't help because she was losing her mind with fear.

Focus Abby. By the goddess, focus.

Jack.

Abby took a breath, the sound of her heartbeat fading as the world came into sharper focus.

Where's Jack?

There was no response, which made her wonder whether she had spoken out loud or not. Abby steadied herself, took another deep breath and tried again.

"Where's Jack?"

"Here!" Abby's focus snapped back in place as she turned around and saw Jack coming into the clinic with a medical containment unit. It was surrounded by Aria's guards, with Griss walking beside Jack.

Willing herself to move, Abby went to them, grabbing Jack's shoulders as she did so.

"What…" She let go immediately when Jack flinched, her body shuddering with pain. The biotic took a step away from her and grabbed at her shoulder. Abby felt like an idiot.

"I'm sorry," the veterinarian said and forced herself to take a breath. She motioned to the containment unit. "Who is this?"

"Grayson," Jack hissed, clutching her arm. "It's for Aria." She tried to look past Abby. "Is Asura here? Is she still…"

Abby didn't want to think about her lover.

"Daniel's taking care of her," she breathed. She had scanned Jack with her omnitool, the data available quickly as her omnitool pulled it from her biotic amps. "I can take care of you." Jack was in pain and her adrenaline still high, indicating a state of extreme anxiety. I can deal with this, she thought, trying to dismiss Asura from her mind altogether.

"Let's get you to one of these cubicles."

She started to direct Jack to an area that wasn't being used but the biotic balked and stepped back to the containment unit.

"I have to take care of this," Jack hissed. "Miranda said… Miranda said nobody except Aria's supposed to get it." She glared at the guards around them which caused Griss to sigh.

"I tried to explain to her that it is as good as in Aria's hands, Doctor," he pointed out. "However, she insisted on staying with it. Given her current condition I decided to bring her to the clinic as well…" He trailed off when Jack glared at him.

"I'm still here Turian," she said then turned to Abby. "Trust me, I fucking insisted…" She trailed off when Abby held up a hand.

"Then we bring it with us," she said. "Let me find a room." Jack's condition wasn't life threatening but tending to her gave her something to do. "Where is Miranda?" She waved over one of the nurses.

"Fuck if I know," Jack hissed, her features pale. "She went off with Anderson and Sanders." She grimaced. "I should have gone with…" She started to say but stopped when her eyes glanced in the direction of the room where Asura was. Abby conferred with the nurse and, with a look in Gris's direction, led the party to one of the private consultation rooms. The turian followed her with a long-suffering look and pushed Grayson's corpse into the room with them. He proceeded to wait outside with his other guards.

Alone, Jack deflated a little and didn't argue when Abby directed her onto the bed. They said nothing as the doctor examined her, taking note of her injuries. None of them were life threatening though she had plenty of bruises and a cracked rib that Jack didn't seem to notice. The biotic had a strange relationship with pain. The worst was her shoulder, which had been dislocated.

Abby, who felt steadier towards the end of the examination, stood back when she looked at the X-ray she had taken.

"I have to get a nurse to help me with this," she said. "Maybe one of the other doctors…"

Jack met her gaze. She didn't want to look the biotic in the eye but sometimes, her piercing gaze didn't give one much of a choice.

"You can do it, I don't want…" Some of the intensity left her. "I mean, I trust… you." For the first time, she sagged a little, glancing at the box that had been squeezed in with them.

"You haven't asked me what happened."

Abby had to bite her lip and involuntarily glanced back behind her, in the direction where Asura's room was.

"I don't think I can deal with the answer," she said honestly. "But Asura…" She saw something in Jack's eyes and realised she had to ask.

"Jack. What happened?"

The little biotic's expression tightened. "Doc, do you really…" She trailed off. Grimaced.

Then she got up and took Abby's hand, taking her to the bed so that she could sit down.

"I guess you should hear it from me…"

Jack told her of the horror of it all, the carnage of a fight they weren't prepared for. And finally, she told her of Asura and how she had tried to swallow the mind of an infinite, artificial fleet of gods.

To Be Continued…