Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, I've been working on another fic.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect. This is owned by Bioware.

Chapter Seventeen

Liara realized that Miranda's concern about her lack of sleep was valid when she barely mumbled a greeting to Dr. Chakwas prior to passing out in the infirmary's bed. For once, Liara's sleep was devoid of nightmares, and she woke up refreshed and eager to finally confront the Shadow Broker. In addition, Liara prayed to Athame that the Broker was holding Feron hostage at his base so she could rescue him.

"You're awake," Dr. Chakwas bustled in from her private room. "I'm going to check your temperature, and your blood pressure if that's ok?"

Liara nodded her assent, recognizing that the best way to convince the doctor to leave her alone was to permit her to mother hen a bit. While her temperature was normal for an asari, her blood pressure was a little low, and Dr. Chakwas insisted on presenting her with an information sheet about eating a healthy, balanced diet.

"I'll do what I can Doctor," Liara replied.

"You can start by eating the breakfast I acquired for you," Chakwas sternly ordered. "I know you've been busy battling the Shadow Broker's agents, but you need to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, and fewer ration packs."

Liara dutifully ate the blood oranges, and the Thessian style scrambled eggs, before sipping down her favorite blend of althea tea. While she'd sampled many different varieties of the plant humans referred to as tea, the knowledge broker always preferred hot tea made from the althea plant. It brought back memories of spending time with her mother on the few occasions Benezia wasn't busy either training students or swaying over asari politicians.

"Good morning Dr. Chakwas, Liara" Miranda politely greeted, impeccably dressed in her jumpsuit and boots, without a single hair out of place.

Liara blushed, remembering that she probably smelled worse than a dead skunk. At least Miranda was too polite, and professional to bring this fact up. "Did Cassia mention when we would be arriving at the Shadow Broker's base?"

"She did not," Miranda replied. "However, I believe EDI estimated we would be arriving at the base in two hours."

"That is correct Ms. Lawson," EDI concurred, causing Dr. Chakwas to flinch slightly in fear. The doctor was understandably wary of the AI, even if she was shackled.

"Would it be ok for me to utilize the shower here instead of the communal shower?" Liara inquired. "I'm not sure how comfortable the Cerberus crew are with my presence."

Miranda flinched as though Liara slapped her, but Dr. Chakwas nodded in understanding. "I don't see why not."

While the hot shower water did alleviate Liara's aches and pains, the asari couldn't dispel the day dream of having Miranda gently scrubbing the dirt off of her body. Guilt bubbled within her for insinuating that she couldn't trust Cerberus, and by extension Miranda. She stayed in the shower until all the hot water ran out, and when she'd dressed and returned to the infirmary, Miranda had already departed. While Liara attempted to make small talk with Dr. Chakwas about what she'd been up to since the annihilation of the first Normandy, she was relieved when Cassia entered and informed her that they'd arrived at the Shadow Broker's base.

…

As they blasted their way into the Shadow Broker's lair, Miranda struggled to convince herself that Liara's distrust of the Cerberus crew wasn't intended as a barb against her personally. Nonetheless, it stung all the same and increased the miniscule portion of her that contemplated whether Cerberus was truly worth serving. The station the Shadow Broker operated out of was a twisting labyrinth, and appeared devoid of personal, which only intensified Miranda's apprehension.

"I have a feeling we're walking into a trap," Miranda uttered.

"It's too late to turn back now," Cassia replied. "Besides, we need to stop the Shadow Broker since he won't voluntarily cease his attacks against Liara."

"I'm aware of that Shepard," Miranda replied. "I just felt it would be prudent to mention it."

"I agree that it's a trap," Liara said. "If we attempted to depart, the Shadow Broker's agents would probably beset us. He intends to fight me personally, and I'm inclined to indulge him."

The calculative manner in which Liara stated this disquieted Miranda. A part of her yearned for Liara to retain her innocence, and not metamorphosize into an asari counterpart to Miranda. She'd never felt this way about Jacob, whom she'd liked as a friend and colleague, and this was distinct from her big sister instinct towards her sister Oriana.

The trio entered what was obviously a torture room with a young drell strapped down with silver metal cuffs. The drell's eerie eyes slid open, and focused on the young asari scientist. "Liara? Is that you?"

"Are you all right Feron?" Liara asked, her tone somewhat optimistic.

"I've been better," Feron replied. "I only held out against the Shadow Broker's torturers by retreating into old memories. Unfortunately, the controls to release me are in the Shadow Broker's mainframe."

Liara shrugged at this new intel. "I was planning on confronting the Shadow Broker anyway. The moment you get free, run to the Normandy. Dr. Chakwas can attend to your injuries."

"Thank you for coming to rescue me Liara," the drell uttered, a miniscule smile lifting his cheeks slightly.

As they sauntered out of the egress of the torture room and into the corridor, Miranda barely suppressed her jealousy at how close Feron and Liara were. She'd sworn that she'd never become the paranoid control freak her father was; Miranda intended to keep that pledge. Soon, the trio was standing before a reinforced metal door that slid open to admit them.

"After you Liara," Cassia chatted politely.

The Shadow Broker's lair was dissimilar to what Miranda predicted. While, there was the vast array of monitors on one of the walls and metal desk required for the Shadow Broker to oversee his numerous operations, the room was circular with a glass dome topping it. Miranda imagined it was at one point someone's greenhouse garden. Likewise, the Shadow Broker was a massive alien species Miranda was unfamiliar with, sporting horns that most krogan would covet to possess and a shark-like mouth containing razor sharp teeth.

"T'Soni, I've been expecting you," the Shadow Broker said, in an unexpectedly raspy voice. "You should have known better than to meddle in my operations. However, now I can eliminate you, and rid myself of your interference."

"If you want to harm Liara, you'll have to go through me first!" Miranda yelled.

"You travel with fascinating companions Doctor T'Soni. At least you brought me both Shepard and Ms. Lawson. Their deaths will cripple Cerberus."

"You're not putting a hand on anyone!" Liara declared, glaring daggers at the Shadow Broker.

"It's pointless to challenge me asari," the Shadow Broker replied. "I know you're every secret, while you fumble in the dark."

"Is that right?" Liara retorted. "You're a yahg, a pre-spaceflight species quarantined to their homeworld for massacring the Council's first contact teams. This base is older than your planet's discovery, which means you probably killed the original Shadow Broker sixty years ago, then took over. I'm guessing you were taken from your world by a trophy hunter who wanted a slave…or a pet how am I doing?"

As entertaining as Liara's barbs were, Miranda regretted them the moment the Shadow Broker stood, revealing he was easily twice her height. The yahg easily tore his metal desk in half as though it were tissue paper, and hurled it at the trio. There was no time to dodge, only maneuver her arms to shield her head from the blow. Blackness hit Miranda like a tsunami wave.

…

The moment Liara saw Miranda lying motionless, she screamed and hurled a biotic warp at the Shadow Broker. It was blocked by his shields, and the Shadow Broker produced a weapon that humans referred to as an assault rifle. As Liara formed a biotic ball to block the bullets, she observed that Cassia opted to duck behind the remains of the metal desk, only emerging to fire her gun at the Shadow Broker. This strategy appeared to work as the Shadow Broker's shields fizzled and finally dissolved.

Unfortunately, the yahg possessed a back-up shield that was clearly some prototype. Neither Liara nor Cassia's shots were able to penetrate it the silver buzzing hexagons that comprised the shield. "The shield's kinetically sensitive! Energy and projectiles are bouncing off!"

Cassia merely stretched her fingers and said, "then we'll do this the hard way!"

It was terrifying to witness her best friend punching a creature that could easily snap her in two like a twig. At least the blows appeared to demolish the prototype shield. Then, the Shadow Broker pulled another trick out of his hat, with a standard orange shield that functioned similar to the one's carried by human knights. The Shadow Broker utilized said shield to knock Cassia off her feet.

Liara fired a volley of bullets to both dismantle the yahg's shield, and permit Cassia to retreat to a better position. Once again, the gradually began to wear down the Shadow Broker's shields. Cassia feinted an attack, goading the Shadow Broker into charging at her and right under the dome's fragile glass ceiling.

"Liara, now!" Cassia ordered.

Liara primed her biotics, and easily smashed through the glass with enough excess energy to hit the Shadow Broker. The yahg yowled in pain, and exploded like a star gone supernova. Liara raced to check on Miranda who was even now climbing out from under the remnants of the metal desk she'd been buried under.

Suddenly, a cacophony of voices arose from the terminal, demanding assistance. For a brief moment, Liara was terrified. Then, she realized what she needed to do and strode forward to the terminal. After all, she was Matriarch Benezia's daughter.

"This is the Shadow Broker," she announced, altering her voice to resemble the yahg's. "The situation is under control. We experienced a power fluctuation while upgrading hardware. It disrupted communications momentarily. However, we are now back online. Resume standard procedures. I want a status report within the next solar day. Shadow Broker out."

"Goddess of oceans…. it's you. You…how?" Feron queried, having managed to escape from the torture chair.

"Well, everyone who's ever seen him in person is dead so…." Liara explained.

"You're the new Shadow Broker," Feron said.

"Are certain taking over from the Shadow Broker is the best course of action?" Miranda asked.

"It was either that or lose everything: his contacts, his trading sources. Those will really help us. With the Shadow Broker's information network, I can give you…. I can…."

"I'll, uh, check the power systems," Feron volunteered, limping out of the room.

Liara was shocked to find salty tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's finally over. After two years."

Miranda closed the distance between them and kissed her. Liara was initially shocked, but surprised herself by responding with equal fervor. They only broke apart when Cassia coughed slightly.

"I know you probably don't want to come with us on our mission Liara," the Spectre gently said. "But you could visit before we leave."

"I'd love to once I've sorted through the Shadow Broker's databases," Liara uttered, avoiding glancing at Miranda. As wonderful as the kiss was, the asari feared that Miranda only did so to comfort her. Liara would only pursue a relationship if Miranda felt the same way.

After Cassia and Miranda departed for the Normandy SR-2, Liara began combing her way through the Shadow Broker's data. While she did scan for more intel on the Collectors, the asari also opened the Broker's file on Miranda.

The file confirmed what she already knew; that Miranda's father was a domineering asshole, and the Cerberus operative only escaped for the sake of her sister Oriana. However, she hadn't known that Miranda once dated another girl named Shirley until Miranda's father broke them up. Moreover, Liara was oblivious that Miranda apparently struggled with infertility, explaining her protectiveness over Oriana. The newly minted Shadow Broker stood, stretched, and began her trek back to the Normandy SR-2. Liara never contemplated motherhood, figuring it was something that she'd sort out once she'd transitioned to being an asari matron. Nonetheless, Miranda desperately yearned for children, and Liara was willing to provide her with some, even if they were asari.

…

"Liara T'Soni is heading your way Operative Lawson," EDI helpfully chirped.

"Thank you, EDI," Miranda replied. She'd changed out of her combat suit, and had the briefest shower since the days when her father only permitted her a ten-minute break between grueling training sessions in the morning, and lessons with her tutor in the afternoon. Miranda wasted most of her time contemplating which of her dresses would be appropriate to greet Liara in, before finally settling on an empire waist cocktail dress which was a solid black above said waist, and a downy white dotted with purple and black flowers below it. She kept her hair loose, but opted to apply some mascara on her eyelids. After all, she wasn't planning on participating in combat in the near future.

Liara apparently had the same idea, as the asari entered Miranda's office clad in a form fitting, floor length violet gown. "I'm sorry I didn't bring any wine since this was all on such short notice."

Miranda shrugged. "That's ok. I'd probably spill it all over my gown considering how antsy I feel."

The asari laughed. "I wasn't aware that the great Miranda Lawson could be anxious. I wanted to discuss that kiss we shared. I'd like to think there's potential for there to be something more than friendship between us. However, I could be misreading the signals."

Miranda felt as though she were being lifted by a biotic barrier; it was a marvelous experience. "You aren't misreading me, Liara," she said reassuringly. "I feel the same way, and was only anxious that you didn't share my feelings."

Liara almost approached as if to kiss her, but instead sat down in Miranda's chair. "There's something important we need to discuss. I read the file the Shadow Broker compiled on you, and it talked about how you sought to have children only to be diagnosed with infertility. I could assist you in having the children you craved. I know you couldn't carry them, and they'd be asari, but I believe you'd make a wonderful father."

Salty tears streamed down Miranda's cheeks as she realized that Liara came to her with this offer, even though she wasn't certain her feelings would be requited. However, the Cerberus operative knew she couldn't accept this offer, as compassionate as it was. "No. Liara, I appreciate the sentiment of your offer. But you should have children, because you genuinely want them. Not because you feel obligated to have them. Moreover, this isn't a very good time to get pregnant, with the Collectors threatening colonies."

Liara nodded in acceptance. "Can I stay at least?" she shyly asked.

"Of course, you can stay," Miranda replied. Thus, the new Shadow Broker and Cerberus' most skilled biotic spent the night in Miranda's bed embracing each other.

Author's Note: Yeah, there weren't any Shakarian moments in this chapter, but we'll getting back to them next time.