The Wildcard

Chapter 25

She may look composed and calm on the outside, but on the inside was a completely different story.

She had been in high spirits when she returned to the cabin after seeing her new set of armor. The craftsmanship was beautiful. The only thing it needed was a paint job, and the terminal next to her bed was already dealing with that problem.

Once she had run out of things to do she started thinking. That was when her thoughts started to head south.

Their next stop was Illium.

And if Timmy was right… she would be there.

Her stomach felt like it was filled with a swarm of butterflies. Ever since she woke up she had felt so alone. The few familiar faces around her only helped a little bit.

There were times where she would wake up and expect to see her blue goddess by her side; times were she thought she would see her around the next corner.

She no longer bared her old scars, but she could feel the memory of each one. It was the same with her memories of Liara.

The woman may not be in danger, may not be injured, but she still felt pain.

A part of her couldn't wait to step off of the ship and onto Illium. But the rest wanted to stay, to stay and hide.

She had no way of knowing what would happen, and she was afraid.

'I'm a coward.' She accused herself.

The center of the bed sunk down as she fell back ungracefully onto it. She just stayed there looking up through the glass above her bed, but not noticing the stars flying by.

The Normandy would arrive in a few hours and every second it took to get there was killing her.

Plague POV

"Why are you going again?" Garrus asked in the airlock while checking his rifle.

"I'm going mostly out of curiosity." Plague shrugged as he leaned on the wall across from the turian.

"Sure it is." Kasumi said sarcastically next to him.

"Yes. It is not every day you get to walk on another planet." He just shrugged. "All the places, the sights…"

"Blue women as far as you can see." 101 froze when the thief interrupted.

"Busted." Joker chuckled over the comm.

"You know I am less then fifteen feet away, right?" he grinned at the following silence.

"I guess that explains him, but what about you?" Garrus asked the thief.

"I'm going mostly to keep him out of trouble. Other than that we are following you guys for a while."

After that explanation the three just stood there in silence. 101 looked around the airlock and saw nothing really worth mentioning. Some panels where on one of the walls where he guessed were some EVA suits.

Glancing to his left he could see Kasumi starting to check her SMG.

He was tempted to do the same with a weapon of his as well, but the idea fell flat when he remembered he had already done it.

Movement across from him caught his attention. Apparently Garrus had finished checking his rifle and had it on his back.

"101." He focused on the alien's face when his name was spoken. "About the Collector ship…" he paused a few seconds, mandibles twitching a little as he contemplated his next words. "Was it as bad as it sounds?"

He let out a sigh. Since yesterday he had been bombarded with questions. He was one of the few people to have stepped onto a Collector ship and to make it out. The few times he saw Tali and Zaeed since then showed they were being asked the same questions.

"Why not ask Zaeed, Tali and Shepard?"

"Zaeed likes to tell stories, but he is already tired of everyone asking." The turian shrugged. "I haven't seen Shepard since breakfast and I tried asking Tali, but she won't tell me anything."

101 mentally winced at that and thought he saw Kasumi stiffen at the corner of his eye. He had only seen the engineer a few times since the last mission, and every time she went to extreme lengths to avoid him.

"Ask me later and I can give you the feed from my helmet." The turian seemed to accept that and leaned back against the wall behind him. Good. He was tired of repeating himself.

"Nasty buggies…" his eyebrow shot up when he faintly heard the voice.

It was not Kasumi, but the voice came from her suit. The thief had on a little smirk under the hood.

"You did I great job, Takara." He praised the AI as he patted the top of the hooded head.

The AI squealed childishly while Kasumi's grin turned into a bright smile. Her hand shot up to bat away his hand good naturedly before crossing her arms.

"Don't spoil her." she managed to say before letting out a small laugh into her hand.

"I almost forgot about the little imp…" they heard Joker groan over the comm.

"We can hear you." Kasumi teasingly proclaimed.

Almost instantly there was a bunch of muffled sounds accompanied by some hushed curses.

"Dirty old man!" Takara called loudly, making Plague have to force down his laughter.

"I'm not old!"

"You are older than her." Plague voiced. "Be the mature one."

The comm seemed to go dead after that and they were again submerged in silence.

Once he looked in front of him again he was met with a half glare. Garrus's mood had changed a little and he was now aiming suspicious glances between him and Kasumi. Although he could bet it was more aimed at the suit then the woman wearing it.

He rolled his eyes.

That was another thing he had been dealing with since yesterday. Now that it became public knowledge on the ship that he housed multiple AI's in his Pip-Boy he had been receiving glares, and had heard some things being said behind his back.

"How can you stand being around that… thing?" the turian growled out like doing such a thing was a large taboo.

Oh, yeah. It was.

"How can you stand working with humans?" he asked back.

Both of the other occupants in the room froze at the question, Kasumi in shock and Garrus in confusion.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Garrus asked while intensifying his glare.

If looks could kill…

"Turians and humans didn't really meet at the best of terms."

"What does that have to do with…" he didn't get that far before Plague jumped in.

"My point is you got over it." He shifted his shoulders before he crossed his arms. "I have nothing against them. Sure there are a few sour apples, but you don't see me gunning every living thing I see because of it."

"An AI is not even alive."

"But it thinks." He cut in again, ignoring the look he was receiving. "Take away our bodies and put our minds in a toaster and we would be exactly the same."

That was something he had actually seen.

"I highly doubt that." He disagreed. "I have killed a lot of geth within the last few years. It makes no difference to me if I kill a geth or a lamp."

"Same can be said with turians." Garrus's eyes widened in shock before narrowing even more. "I don't feel any different killing a turian then I feel killing a human. Both are alive. Aside from our organic matter we are no different than a self-aware AI, electrical impulses within the brain."

Before Garrus could add to the argument, Tali and Shepard turned the corner.

Tali is wearing her normal suit while his employer on the other hand sported her new armor. It was now painted a dark violet with some dark blue tones here and there around the rings with a red stripe going down an arm and an N7 over her heart.

He could see her flexing her fingers a little.

"Suit causing any trouble?" he had to ask with a raised brow.

"Hmm?" she looked up at him. The woman looked like she had something on her mind. "Oh. No. Not at all!" she said quickly. "It is perfect. Hardly feels like I'm wearing anything… as strange as that sounds considering it is armor."

"I was the same way for a while." Kasumi chipped in as Tali stood next to Garrus, clearly avoiding looking across the airlock.

"It's the nerve material." He shrugged again. "I am not a big fan of purple, but I have to admit it looks good."

"Thanks." a small and tired smile appeared on her face.

After she let out a sigh she turned to the two aliens and received what Plague thought was a comforting gaze from the two.

Something was up, but he couldn't put his finger on it. But he could tell by how the two aliens were looking at her that it was clearly not his business.

"We are docked." Joker announced over the comm. "How do you want to do this, Shepard?"

"Let the crew out on shore leave." Ordered the woman in charge. "But make sure we have at least the bare minimum on the ship at all times. We should be here for a while."

"Roger that." And with those words, the airlock hissed open and 101 materialized his duster combination without a helm.

"What are your plans?" Plague asked as they stepped out.

"We have to pick up two more people from here." Shepard answered as she stretched her arm a little while walking. Tali and Garrus were on one side while he and Kasumi were on the other. "We are going to go gather information on where we can find them." she glanced his way. "You?"

"We are going to look around." Kasumi answered for him. "Maybe get some drinks."

His grin had fallen a centimeter. This was the Thief's idea. They were going to go get some drinks, on her, as an apology for the last time she had been his drinking buddy.

She had already made up for drugging him, but the woman was persistent.

"I could use a drink right about now." Shepard sighed while looking off into the distance longingly.

"Maybe we can before we leave." Garrus offered.

"Maybe…" Her eyes narrowed. "Heads up."

Plague fallowed his employer's line of sight and raised a brow.

An asari in a white and purple dress with her stomach exposed was walking their way followed by two LOKI mechs. Both were holding what he faintly remembered being called an M-4 Shuriken.

He would have went for a weapon, but decided against it. The machines were not aiming at them and the asari held a purely business like demeanor, along with perfect posture one can only gain from being composed for years.

The look on her face was what decided it for him. She had a smile on her face that he could tell was practiced so she could look less like a threat. The expression seemed routine.

"Welcome to Nos Astra, Commander Shepard." The blue woman greeted when both groups met half way. The tone in her voice confirmed his suspicions. "We've been instructed to waive all docking and administration fees for your visit."

Well that was a surprise.

'No one ever pays for my crap.' He enviously sighed in his head.

"My name is Careena." She introduced herself with a small polite nod. "If you need information about the area, it would be my pleasure to assist you."

"Who is paying for my fee?" Shepard asked.

Plague had to roll his eyes at the question. Free is free.

"The order came from Liara T'Soni…" he noticed his employer stiffen at the name along with her eyes slightly widening before she composed herself. "… who paid all fees on your behalf."

Plague's eyes were drawn to the two mechs that suddenly started to turn away and leave as the asari messed with her Omni-tool. She then started to read something for a second before deactivating it.

"She also asked that I direct you to speak with her at your convenience." The asari continued. "She's near the trading floor."

"What… what is she doing?" she corrected herself quickly, but not fast enough for Plague to not notice.

"Liara is one of Nos Astra's most respected information brokers." Careena smiled a little wider. "Information is valuable currency, and Liara has done quite well."

That was something Plague agreed with. Information was power. You knew how to aim a gun; you live another night back home. Know how to make medicine; you gain leverage on those around you. Know how to fix an engine; chances are you can get around both faster and safer.

Down side is information gets into the wrong hands more than fifty percent of the time.

"Good… to hear." He faintly heard Shepard sigh under her breath. "What can you tell me about Nos Astra?"

"It's an exciting city." Careena turned to the side and took a few steps towards the railing and waved at the scenery of gray skyscrapers beyond the Normandy. "We see a lot of new cultures and goods because of our proximity to the Terminus Systems." She turned back to the group. "At the same time, Illium is still an asari world." She was now standing before them again. "You should be as safe here as you would be on the Citadel. For your own safety, however, I recommend against signing anything."

There was the catch. Nothing is ever as good as it appears.

"What's so dangerous about signing anything?" Shepard asked curiously.

"Illium is a free-trade world, Commander." Careena started to explain. "Contract term requirements are more relaxed here than on other planets. It's a small price to pay for keeping our competitive edge in goods from the Terminus Systems."

"What kind of goods are we talking about?" 101 asked, not even attempting to hide the slowly forming glare.

The asari turned his way and politely smiled, ignoring the look in his eyes.

"Anything you can imagine." She answered. "Illium is a wonderful world for those who can afford it."

'Same can be said for everywhere else.' He mentally growled.

"In order to remain competitive as a Terminus Systems port, we've relaxed many of the standards you'd find on other asari worlds. Most drugs are legal, provided they are labeled properly." She explained. "You can buy almost any weapon or technology." That actually intrigued him. "You can even buy indentured servants."

And the mood was gone.

His fists clenched at that last bit of information. In the corner of his eye he could see the others flinch as well.

"Disgusting." He spat out, the one word covered in venom.

"Those who become servants do so willingly, and have rules in place for their own safety." Careena was quick to defuse when she saw the murderous look that was starting to form on 101's face.

"Either way you look at it, it is slavery." He growled, actually making the asari take a hesitant step back. "Don't try to pretty it up!"

"Thanks, Careena." Shepard butted in before the conversation could continue. "I'm afraid we must be going."

"Again, welcome to our city, Commander." The asari jumped onto the distraction. Anything to get out of the quickly growing hostility. "Please enjoy your stay."

And with that the asari walked off.

Taylor Shepard POV

"You alright?" she asked Plague after a few awkward minutes of walking.

"Yeah, Boss." He sighed as he reached up to rub the back of his head. "Just a sore subject."

"I understand." She grimly nodded her head.

Slavery was not something she liked either. If what Careena said was true, then those who became servants on Illium had a far better deal than what she could have had if she did not fight back all those years ago.

Did not mean she liked it.

"We were always told that illium is one of the safest places in the galaxy… until you fall off the grid." Garrus entered the conversation. "Sign the wrong contract, join up with the wrong company, or walk down the wrong alley, and it's as dangerous as anywhere else."

'Not really helping, Garrus.' The Commander mentally sighed.

After that the group went quiet as they continued walking. EDI had chimed in and gave them directions to Liara's office.

Knowing the asari was so close was making her more anxious. Even with her knew gloves keeping her hands cool; she could feel her palms getting sweaty.

She had wanted Garrus and Tali to come with her because they were familiar faces who knew what she was going through. She just did not have the courage to face Liara on her own.

When an asari she never met before called out to her she asked the others to wait for her. When she came back her face was a little pale. Don't get her wrong. She was happy the rachni were recovering. It was just the manor of witch they contacted her.

She had thought the rachni queen had been able to talk to her back on Noveria because the asari she was talking through was close to death. She was proven wrong considering the asari walking away looked completely healthy.

Surprisingly enough that was not the only reminder of Novaria she ran into.

Gianna Parasini. An internal affairs officer she had helped take down an administrator.

She needed help arresting an asari at a nearby store terminal. It was easy enough. All she had to say was she needed some extra hardware.

Now that those distractions were out of the way she continued walking.

When they finally reached the door to the asari's office she felt like a nervous wreck. A hand would dart up to fix an out of place hair that did not exist.

The others waited for her to take the final few steps, but she just stood there.

"Shepard…"Tali started.

"I… I'm fine." She shakily lied.

She had now been standing in front of the door for more than thirty seconds.

With one large calming breath she opened the door.

Her feet walked in before she could hesitate. She could have admired the size of the office. Could have admired the view out the large window.

Instead she was frozen; looking at the back of an asari she both loved and, at the moment, feared.

"Have you faced an asari commando unit before?" asked a voice she knew well. It was a voice she could never forget. But it was different. The voice was colder than she remembered. Did not mean her ears did not strain to hear every word. Liara was talking to a hologram of a man in a white suit. The fear he felt was easy to see on his face. "Few humans have." She tapped a few things on a datapad before continuing. "I'll make it simple. Either you pay me, or a flay you alive." Even though it was not aimed at her she could feel the glare. "With my mind." With those last three words the transmission was cut.

She started to turn around and froze for a second when their eyes met over her shoulder. Chills ran down her spine while her heart skipped a beat. This was the asari she had wanted to be near since she awoke. Those blue eyes she had longed to see for the last few months. Those lips she had wanted to see smile to raise her spirits.

"Taylor!" she called out in surprise when she turned. "Nyxeris, hold my calls."

Shepard couldn't even hear if the other asari replied. She was too focused on the quickly approaching asari. By the time she was able to move she only had to take two steps to meet her.

There was a small pause when they met. It was like neither could believe the other was standing there. Shapard followed Liara's descending gaze and shakily and gently held the blue hands offered to her.

In the next few seconds she took in everything about her lost love. Her eyes, head crest, light blue smooth skin, some freckles across her face. Even the white and green dress. She took it all in.

She could see the spark within her eyes, but couldn't help but notice the almost nonexistent signs. Her little asari had gone through so much since she was gone. To her they had only been separated for a few months. If it had not been for that she would have never noticed how much Liara had changed from a delicate blue flower, into a hardened individual.

But that did not matter. To Shepard she was still her Liara.

They inched closer together, and when their lips brushed over each other she felt a jolt of electricity running through her that only intensified when the kiss became a little deeper.

It was like she had been gasping for air up until this point. With those lips against her own she felt alive again. Not just a body given life, but her soul.

But then the imposable happened.

She started to pull away.

'No. Don't…' she mentally begged as she leaned a little forward, only for Liara to fully break the kiss, and with the action her heart as well.

When her eyes slowly opened she saw the archeologist now information broker was looking away.

Before she could say or do anything the asari walked off leaving Shepard's hand that was about to rest on her blue cheek to slowly fall. She stood there on a mix between disbelief and shock. Never had her love just abandon her like that. After two years she had hoped for… more.

Instead she had been neglected. Left to the confusing emotions Liara's action had caused.

She turned and hesitantly walked to the opposite side of the desk.

"My sources said you were alive, but I never believed…" she paused to take what Shepard thought was a relived breath. "It's very good to see you."

'It's good to see you to…' Shepard thought while blinking away some moisture that started to form in her eyes. She didn't want Liara to see her as a crying wreck. When she looked up she put on a warm smile. She can't let her features change. "Since when do you have sources?"

"Since you…" she trailed off and closed her eyes, a sign she was thinking of what had happened to Shepard. "Being a business broker has paid the bills… for the past 2 years." When Liara motioned to the seat across from the one she sat down in, Shepard did the same. "And now you're back, gunning for the Collectors with Cerberus."

Shepard inwardly sighed at that tone. She had thought Liara wouldn't jump down her throat like Ashley did. "If you know that, how about you come with me?"

"I can't, Taylor." The asari's features hardened as a stern tone was used. It was a tone Shepard flinched at. "I'm sorry. I have commitments here. Things I need to take care of."

"What kind of things are you talking about?" Shepard asked with some worry. "Anything dangerous?"

"No, no trouble." Liara soothed her worries. "But it's been a long two years. I had things to do while you were gone. I have debts to repay." She glanced down at her desk in deep thought before looking up. "Listen, if you want to help, I need someone with hacking expertise, someone I can trust."

"What do you need?" Tali spoke up as she walked forward.

When Liara looked past Shepard to the two familiar faces she smiled. "Tali! Garrus! It is good to see you two as well."

"We can't just sit by while Shepard takes on a swarm of insects." Garrus said good naturedly.

"I wish I could do the same." The asari sighed before looking to Tali. "I need someone to disable security at key points around Illium so I can get some information. That would help me a great deal."

"I can help to." Kasumi jumped in with a mischievous smile on her face. "You said my two favorite words."

"Disable and Security?" Plague asked aloud before Kasumi lightly elbowed him.

"Kasumi Goto." Liara said, making the thief's smile fall. "I fallowed your career for a short time. You handle your work well, with no innocent deaths during your heists." If anything, Kasumi was shocked. "It was out of luck that I saw your face. Don't worry about anyone recognizing you." She turned back to Shepard. "If you could send Ms. Gotto and Tali to take care of my problem, I would appreciate it."

"I can go with Tali." Garrus voiced. "Illium is not a safe place for a quarian to be walking alone."

"Guess that leaves Plague and I." Kasumi smiled.

"Good." Liara then activated her Omni-tool. "I will split the list between you two." Just as she said that, the two other woman's Omni-tools lit up. "I am also sending you directions with what I need you to do."

Plague POV

"That was weird." Kasumi said out loud once the office doors closed behind them.

The two small groups would take care of the hacking while Shepard stayed behind and find out where the Normandy's next two potential crewmembers were located.

"What?" 101 looked down to the woman beside him.

"No one I have not met knows what I look like and fewer have seen me without the hood, yet this Liara does." The thief sighed in frustration. "I cover my tracks."

"Maybe she was just lucky." Plague said comfortingly. "Does not seem like the type to spread that kind of information around."

"She is an information broker." She stressed. "Just need one person to give her the right amount of credits."

"She seems close to the Boss." He noted.

"Yes, there is that." The hooded woman cupped her chin. "Remind me to hack into her systems and delete everything she has on me once we are done with the Collectors."

"Noted." The vault dweller smirked.

Both groups split up once they left the office. The whole hacking process was mostly full of Plague standing next to Kasumi as the thief ripped the firewalls on her console apart.

Plague did not complain. This gave him plenty of time to look around.

He had never seen towers as tall as the ones around him. The tallest structures he was used to were mostly rubble.

Plague narrowed his eyes when he felt a slight pressure on his left. He reached out with the speed only one develops from becoming a quick draw.

The wrist he was holding and twisted with a power armor gauntlet ended up belonging to a male human pickpocket.

"Let Go! Let Go!" the man screamed in agony when Plague forced his arm behind his back.

"Adam." Plague glanced towards Kasumi and saw she did not appear amused. "Can't draw to much attention."

Oh yeah. They were doing something technically illegal, weren't they?

With an annoyed sigh he turned to the failed pickpocket. "If I see you again, I Keep the Arm."

And with that Plague released the man and kicked him in the ass to get the pickpocket moving.

Been a while, I know. If you just read the chapter you know who received the most votes.

If you want to see the poles, here you go.

Kasumi: 24

Garrus: 19

Tali: 10

Jack: 8

Mordin: 6

Grunt: 4

Miranda: 2

Jacob: 1

Feel sorry for Jacob and Miranda, but that is how you guys voted. I even got four for Blasto, even if I had no clue how to put him in the story. On I side note I can see you guys really like and support the Adam/Kasumi romance. Good to know. I will admit when I first started the story the idea of making him end up with Shep did cross my mind, but Kasumi is just awesome.

She is by far the most interesting person on the ship in my opinion. She is funny, fun to talk to, quirky. Not to mention she relates to Adam on a level I honestly can't see anyone else reaching. Sure Shepard died, but just think about it. The fact Kasumi does not have much of a dialogue wheel and can't be romanced annoys the hell out of me. Let's not even talk about how you can't have her on the squad in Mass Effect 3, but I most likely will bitch about it once I get that far.

That's right! You just heard I plan to continue this through ME3!

Anyway, can't wait to see you all next chapter. For those of you reading this and are Naruto Self Insert fans, I am going to post the first chapter of Ninja Doorman in the very near future.

It is already typed up; just have to go over it first.