"Since when do you drink Tea?" Ashley asked as she accepted a cup, taking a casual sip

Vasir took it but didn't drink, opting to just hold it and let it cool.

"Meh, realized that if nothing else hits me like it should, caffeine doesn't either. And while I can't make good coffee to save my life, Tea is kinda hard to fuck up."

Raptor had a feeling it also had something to do with Kasumi, but at the same time felt bad for stereotyping.

"So, you want help finding Liara? Why come to us?" Shepard raised an eyebrow, wishing she was as convincing at lying as Bourne. And then kinda wondering why she actually would want to be.

"Yeah, last I heard she was on Illium doing that whole info broker thing." Bourne shrugged. "Must be recent if none of my contacts have told me about it."

"She's put a few people in the ground looking for the Shadow broker." Vasir answered. "And there could be more, the way she's going on...and since she used to part of your crew, well…"

"Well what?" Raptor snapped.

"The shadow broker is a dangerous enemy to have. Even for a Spectre." Vasir took a sip. "I figured you might know something I wouldn't."

"You mean like the antidote to the poison I put in the tea?" Bourne smirked.

The three of them looked between their glasses and him.

He chuckled as he took a sip.

"Not all that funny of a joke." Ashley glared.

"It sorta is. If I had used poison it wouldn't be one that had an antidote. I'd just let it hit her and let the cybernetics and gen mods take care of it for Raptor and I...Ash being here kinda threw a wrench in that possibility, no offense."

"Why do I get the feeling you're not going to cooperate with me?" Vasir looked annoyed.

"Lady, do you see how fucked up the ship is? I have had a very long week, and I still got more shit to take care of. And plenty more after that. We're trying to save the whole goddamn galaxy from the Geth and Cerberus and who knows what the fuck else, and you're asking us to help track down Raptor's former fuck buddy?"

"Excuse you?" Shepard's biotics nearly went off as she glared.

"On top of that, exactly why is a Spectre looking into this? Seems waaaaayyy below our pay grade." He cut off her reply, turning to Ash. "Seriously, this is the 'spectre' Udina picked? I hate his guts and all but I didn't think he'd suffered brain damage recently."

"Well at least she's not on a ship that still has Cerberus logos all over." Ashley snapped.

"Uh, actually yeah she is, she's sitting right here."

"You know damn well that's not what I meant you ass!"

"Is that any way to speak to a commanding officer?"

"I got a promotion you idiot! I'm the same rank as you at this point!"

"Well...wait you're a lieutenant now?" He frowned. "Huh, someone's getting fired for not telling me that one. Possibly out an airlock…"

"Oh, what, you didn't know something about me? Join the club. How many secrets and surprises were there between us?"

"You say that like you think there is still an us." He responded flatly.

"Well there's not gonna be if you talk like that. Or that shit you pulled back on Horizon."

Raptor was at just the right angle to see his left cybernetic arm twitch slightly, and his eyes momentarily flash red.

"Okay, as much fun as the soap opera is-" Vasir broke in, only to be cut off by Bourne's stasis field.

"Ash, what the fuck did we even have going for us in the first place huh? You were fun to be with, don't get me wrong, but can you honestly say you still think there's anything long term here?"

Vasir warped out of the stasis field, standing up and looking furious. "Do not do that to me again."

He didn't even look her direction "Vasir, if I threw something more dangerous than a stasis field, that's how quickly you'd be unconscious and/or dead. That in mind…"

"Right to threats, big shock. It was like that from day one. You can't solve every problem by shooting at it or violence in other ways!"

"What, you want me to try poetry? Okay. Roses are red, that Spectre is blue-"

"You know, there's not much point in you two fighting like this since I know there's not gonna be makeup sex." Raptor cut him off, chuckling.

"...why is that where your mind went?" Both of them asked in unison.

"Shepard, maybe we should kick the children out and then the adults can talk?" Vasir groaned.

"Except it's my cabin, and I'm half tempted to throw all of you out." Bourne responded.

"While part of me wants you to try because that'd be entertaining, I'd recommend you don't." Raptor rolled her eyes.

He was silent, eyes flashing between purple and blue.

"Jason, that silence better not be you contemplating actually doing it." She glared.

"Fine, fine." He turned back to Vasir. "Fact is, I've been looking for Liara too- Raptor tends to be in a better mood when she's with someone besides Rosie Palms."

"One of these days you're going to wake up with a pillow over your head suffocating you." Shepard glared, flipping him the bird.

"See what I mean? Total celibate grump."

Is he trying to piss me off and sell that?...cause the first part is working.

"What would you do if you did find her anyway? Take her back to Illium? Spectres don't have as much authority there and all."

"Not to put too fine a point on it, but non-Asari spectres don't have much authority there." Vasir said smugly.

"Alright, fair point." He shrugged.

"Odds are if she called us or we found her or whatever, we could deal with this ourselves without your help anyway. No offense." Raptor said.

"You two are also close to her. You might slip up because you're too emotionally invested."

"Well, at least she might." Ashley muttered. "Starting to wonder if he actually can feel emotions."

"Just how petty are you planning on being right now?" He sighed. "Look, I broke up with you in a dick way, you were a bitch on horizon, can we just call it even and move on with our lives?"

"...part of it is that he's with someone else now." Raptor threw out in the silence. "So even if he does still feel something for you, -and we both know he wouldn't admit that -he's not the type to break it off with her."

He gave her an annoyed look.

"What? I'm just saving you some trouble down the line." She smirked slightly.

"And was this someone else before or after-"

"It was after horizon." He glared at Ashley, though there was a hint of hurt in his voice. "We'd been friends for a while by then, and she was one of the few things holding me together after."

"What does that mean?" She asked, a hint of concern sneaking onto her face.

"Doesn't matter." He shook his head. "I'm not looking for pity...nor your respect or whatever the fuck you wanna call it." He turned back to Vasir, face somehow looking strained even as it slowly went back to its emotionless mask. "If you find something about Liara and want help, call. We find something about her, maybe I'll call you. That's the best offer you're gonna get, got too much else on my plate. Now please leave- I've got half dozen people I need to bribe and or threaten to get this wreck flying again."

"It would be in your best interest, and hers, to tell me when you do find her." Vasir said, setting down her tea. "We're done for the day." She directed at Ashley as she walked out. "Report to the ambassador's office in the morning and we can discuss our next move."

"EDI, make sure she leaves." Bourne brought up his omnitool on his right hand.

"As you wish Bourne."

"That said...there's been an unfortunate error made since she got on board, and the spectre override codes won't work on the airlock...right?"

"Yes, very unfortunate."

"Was that sarcasm?"

"I was not programmed for sarcasm."

"Joker must be so proud he's such a bad influence." He shook his head with a chuckle.

"...so where is Liara really?" Ashley asked, crossing her arms.

He pointed at Raptor in response. "You wanna use my room to talk, knock yourself out, but don't touch any of my stuff. I actually do have to go bribe or threaten some people." He teleported out, leaving Ashley glaring at the spot he'd been.

"...this ship has a bar. Talk there instead?" Raptor suggested.

"God yes. I could use a drink."

"And if you end up with a hangover, Chakwas is still on board to deal with it."

"Not exactly reassured by that, but good to know."

"You do realize you could just make an appointment with my secretary." Tevos sighed as she walked in, looking more annoyed than surprised when she saw me.
"Sneaking in is more fun." I smirked. "Plus, this way you're getting a free security test. Took me almost twice as long to sneak in this time."

She rolled her eyes and walked around to her desk.

"Also, keeping a gun there is smart, but you might wanna pick up something heavier than a predator." I tossed the gun on the table, sans heat sink and ammo block. "Maybe a Carnifax."

"...Frankly, if I was going to take action against you right now, I'd just use my biotics anyway." She put a hand to her temple. "What do you want Bourne?"

"First off, I wanted to deliver *this* in person." I tossed a datapad on the table in front of her. She glanced at me, then picked it up and read a bit, eyes widening as she did so. "This...what...where did this come from?"

"The collector base. Before we blew the hell out of it. Didn't want the data being intercepted or going to your spam folder."

She looked through it further. "...why are you giving me this?"

"Cause I was coming here anyway, in part." I shrugged. "Frankly, you're the only councilor I'm blackmailing at the moment, so I can trust you a bit more than the other two. And Anderson is busy, I checked." I let my face darken slightly, and I could almost feel Hero seething too.

*When you get a sec, maybe write Anderson, suggest he shoot Kai Leng in the head instead of both legs?*

(Or the balls.)

*I can't believe I'm saying this, but I like your idea better Iron.*

)Better idea- All three. Legs, balls, head.(

I shook my head. "Just make sure the other two see this."

"You know there are channels for this." She pushed it aside, still rubbing her temples. "...Bourne, I...I want you to know something...I...I wasn't denying this threat because it was you saying it. I...truly believed you were wrong. Part of me still hopes you are. But, Goddess, I can't ignore this either."

"Let's hope Sparatus and Valern feel the same...I'll try not to say I told you so when it comes to that point, but I make no promises." I said semi-sheepishly.

She glared at me.

"What? It's been two years of 'we've dismissed that claim'. I'm a little bitter and/or petty- getting off track here." I stopped myself. "Why is Tela Vasir on station?"

"Why does that matter to you?" She asked.

"Because she's looking for Liara T'soni. And I've got reason to believe she's doing it because the shadow broker asked her to kill T'soni to get her off his back."

"That's a-...you know what, I'm not even going to bother asking for proof this time." She sighed. "It does explain why she was so willing to shadow another of your former crew members…"

"Who put her name forward? Udina?"

"Officially it was Anderson, in his capacity both as a Councilor and an Alliance Officer. But it was likely Udina had a hand in it, yes...He's been making a push to become Councilor himself. He's still pushing for humanity to have more power politically, despite-"

"Yeah yeah yeah, Udina is a dick, I know." I rolled my eyes. "Point is, does Vasir have a current assignment? Or is she just 'following some lead' or something?"

She pursed her lips. "We don't keep tabs on every Spectre at all times. I don't know for sure."

"Well, as is...I've looked into her. She's done good work in the past. But if it comes down to my friends, or her? She's gonna end up as dead as Saren."

"Are you asking me for permission?"

"Like you giving permission nor denying it has changed things before?" I raised an eyebrow "Look, all I'm saying is, it would be more beneficial for all involved if you came up with some way to get her off this station for the next...I don't know, 72 hours?"

"...I'll see what I can do." She said reluctantly.

"Oh, and one more thing?"

"What now?" She sounded exasperated.

"I'm using the spectre status to clear a couple major criminals who helped me take down the collectors. Toodles." I teleported out before she could protest.

A few more jumps- I'd discovered breaking out was much easier than breaking in- and I was outside the presidium, headed back towards the sky car.

And speaking of criminals- I opened a secure channel. "Any luck babe?"

"It...since when do you call me babe?" Kasumi sounded amused.

"What, you don't like it?"

"With you Jay, I'll take however much romance I can get." She chuckled. "Anyway, all the bugs I planted on her gear are offline. The only one still active is the one I put on her rental car, and that's just back at the lot."

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I was surprised. You're good- I mean the best- " I corrected myself. "But she's still a spectre."

"So what's plan B?"

"If we can't keep an eye on Vasir, we'll have to try keeping an eye on Ash instead."

"That's assuming Vasir isn't doing law breaking on her own."

"Hmm, true. My normal move would be to set a trap with bait, but considering said bait would have to be Liara, and I think we'd both prefer I don't become a enuech and/or corpse due to Raptor's fists and or Widow…"

"Yeah, I'd rather that not happen too. I'm headed back to the Normandy."

"Alright, see you there...or else you'll be cloaked but I'll still hear you."

"Smartass."

"You know you love me anyway."

"Yep." She cut the line as I got in the car. I pulled into traffic, headed towards Hephastus's place.

I suddenly had another call from Raptor.

"How'd the 'bribing and threatening' go?"

"Eh, more of the second one than the first. I know, big shock."

"I'm trying to hold back my surprise." I could almost hear her rolling her eyes. "Turns out pretty much of the booze in the longue got smashed, so Ash and I hit a dive bar instead that was nearby. Interested in joining us, without you know who?"

"This doesn't count as the 'I owe you drinks' cause it's not the whole squad."

"Hmm...you buy the next round when you get here though."

"You know you're not gonna get drunk that easy right?"

"I'm up for the challenge."

"Fine. But if you pass out, I'm totally drawing a mustache on your face."

"Hah, very fffUnnyyy-" A sudden burst of static cut off the rest of her sentence.

I frowned. "Raptor?"

I heard what sounded like an explosion and the line went dead. I swore and hit the gas, suddenly ignoring traffic laws as I made a 180 and headed directly back in the direction the Normandy was parked.

"EDI, you copy?...EDI, do you copy?" I swore as Hero appeared in the passenger seat, Iron in back.

(Well, at least we're finally getting some excitement.)

)We just got done with the collector base like not even a week ago!(

(Really? Feels like several months to me.)

)What?(

(Nothing, don't worry about it. Also, don't forget to leave reviews to encourage more action instead of him sitting on his ass.)

)...so you're just going nuts again, alright then.(

(Anyway, explosion plus a former squad mate in a public place on a hub world? Kinda sounds familiar...or this is just the failed assassination, but either way.)

I swerved to avoid a car that came out of nowhere, then had to dive to avoid another. )Well, we met with Vasir, already so probably the explosion one.(

(Unless it's Isaac or Slade…)

)With this timing? I doubt it. Plus, why would those two be going after Shepard or Ash? I'm the one they want dead.(

I felt a reality pulse go off.

)Well, shit.(

*Missiles incoming!*

I didn't look, I just took her word for it, taking the car straight up, giving myself some room to maneuver without having to worry about hitting anyone else.

*They're tracking us- and now there's more on the way.*

)Can you see who fired them?(

*No contrails to follo- wait, yeah, I just saw one get launched.*

I opened the door as I drove one handed, and blindly fired the dreadshot behind me, hearing an explosion as it hit one of the rockets.

*You've still got a lot more, and they're gaining!*

)That's kind of what I'm counting on.( I leaned out of the aircar, holding the steering in place biotically as I watched the missiles close in, scanning for another launch.

(Over there! That restaurant!)

He phased through me to point. While it didn't feel like anything, didn't give me shivers down my spine or anything, it was still weird as hell.

)Got it.(

My biotics appeared around me as the distance between the car and the missiles got shorter and shorter.

The two got sucked into my head as I tensed my legs, and poured everything I could into my barrier.

I jumped and fired the dreadshot at the car. I felt my stomach lurch as I accelerated downward, and I put up a thick barrier around myself as the missiles slammed into the car, creating a huge fireball. I flipped in the air so I was falling down head first, letting my biotics fade as I kept my eyes peeled for the assailants.

Hopefully if they see me falling without the biotics, they'll think I died in the crash. Just have to slow myself down before I hit the ground…

I saw movement, and the visor zoomed in automatically, though even with that and my enhanced eyes they still were barely more than ants. Wrong colors to be Cerberus, and not dark enough to be with Slade and Isaac...must be the Shadow Broker's.

A shot suddenly whizzed by my head, and I put up my barrier as another followed suit.

Glad it's not Raptor or Garrus shooting at me at this range.

I rolled to the side and teleported as they aimed again, then dashed past where I'd just been, trying to present a moving target and keep them from getting a lock on me. As the ground rushed closer, I slowed myself almost to a stop, before locking eyes one one merc, and suddenly charging at him. I closed the distance in an instant, and the force sent him flying, even as I wheeled on another merc and punched him in the gut biotically, sending him to join his friend. Before the other mercs could turn, I teleported behind a car to get my bearings.

Hero and Iron jumped back out, the former surveying the scene. *Looks like about a dozen of them, mostly grunts but a couple engineers and an adept too.*

)Then they're outnumbered.( I charged up a Flare in hand as I grabbed my plasma shotgun with my left hand, holding it by the stock. I threw it over the car, and at the sound of the explosion popped up with the gun aimed and charged, aiming at the merc with tech armor that didn't seem phased. He hit me with an overload, and I fired then ducked behind cover again, wincing slightly. My barrier had caught most of it, but it still stung a bit. Hero and Iron watched both sides of the car as it recharged. Hero let me see what she was seeing, most of the mercs getting up while those closest to the center of the blast were motionless.

They started moving around the car, trying to flank me.

I fired blindly over the car, aiming at where Hero saw one of them, and caught him in the chest, dropping his shields. His surprise gave me time to fire again, killing him before the gun overheated. I swapped to the S-17 as I felt my biotics come back, and vaulted over the car, charging at the adept towards the back. She didn't have time to react before I was punching her in the face, and then sweeping her leg out from under her. I wrapped the metal arm around her neck in a choke hold as I held the gun to her head.

"I'm guessing you don't care about hostages, but on the off chance you do…"

The one with tech armor held up a fist, and the others lowered their guns slightly, though they were still aimed in my direction. "Our orders are to terminate you. Let her go, and we'll make it quick."

"You fuckers tried to blow me up with rockets and you expect me to buy that?" I raised an eyebrow. "Who sent you?"

"That doesn't matter to you right now. You only get one chance." The others' guns went back up.

I shrugged. "Fair enough." I pulled the trigger. At such close range the semi-explosive round almost obliterated her head, and I threw her corpse at the leader before charging at him, then detonating a nova to knock the rest off balance. A flick of my wrists deployed the lashes, and I swung them at both groups, knocking them down. I double tapped three of them with the assassin before it overheated, and threw a knife at another's head as he stood up.

The leader pushed the corpse aside, only for me to throw two more at him. The one survivor tried to fire at me from the ground, but I finished him off with the dreadshot. The group I hadn't focused on got back up, and one of them threw a grenade. I teleported to the other side of the car as it went off.

I brought my hands to my side, and thrust them forward, sending a hadoken at the car, and propelling it towards them. I still only barely got it to move, but its large mass made up for its low speed, and I could hear bones crack even as they screamed.

I walked around the car, shooting a couple of them that were squirming in the head, and towards the leader. Both of his legs were pinned by the car as he tried to free himself.

I stepped on the closest one, making him scream in pain. "You're gonna tell me what I want to know. Hard way or easy way?"

He glared at me from behind his helmet. "You've already got other squads converging. You'll never get off this station alive."

"Hard way it is" I reached out with the psychomancer, striking quickly before he even knew what was happening. I overloaded his pain receptors, making it all but impossible for him to fight back as I quickly searched through his short term memories.

Being a disciplined merc, after a few moments he collected himself enough I couldn't get more out of him, so I shot him in the head.

I took a moment to collect myself, thinking over what I'd seen in his mind. "Well, shit."

I took off sprinting in the direction the ship was docked.

*I only caught part of that- what's wrong?*

I didn't reply, letting both of them get sucked back into my head instead as I focused on running at almost my max speed, using my biotics to make myself lighter and faster as well.

(Oh, fuck. That actually is pretty bad.)

*How did you do that so quick?*

(Hah, I didn't, I just said that for dramatic effect. I have no idea what he's on about either.)

*I really, really hate you sometimes.*

(Only sometimes? That might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me.)

*Argh! Bourne, what's wrong?*

)Liara was never the target. Raptor and I are the targets.(

T117: So...yeah. I'm Back. Well, I mean, I never really left, I just was working very slowly.

(Working slowly? Dude, a bunch of monkeys with typewriters could've come up with a chapter faster.)

T117: Yeah, I know.

(Fuck dude, it's been like 9 months, you could've made a baby in that amount of time.)

T117: Yes, I know. And I don't make promises that the next chapter will be out any faster...though I also really doubt it would be any slower. And realistically it will be faster because I set that bar like, stupidly low. Anyway, until next time, Sayonara.