“I've never had ramen...are you sure there's no other way to eat this than using...what did you call them 'chopsticks’?” Le’Nassia was a trained assassin that could handle a knife and a gun with ease but these damn wooden spikes were giving her hell.

“You can use a fork if you can't master the sticks.” Ryker laughed at her attempts, Nas would probably starve to death if she had to use chopsticks.

“No! I'm damn well gonna get this...these spikes will not get the best of me.” Determined she worked at the craft.

As they sat enjoying their meal a woman in a black suit walked up to their table and sat down, “good evening Ryker please don't get up or attempt to grab your gun you'd be dead before you pulled it up and I'd hate to be responsible for this girl's death.” The woman indicated if she did anything, Le’Nassia would die.

“Alright...I'll indulge you for the time being...who the fuck are you?” Angry that someone was threatening her girlfriend instead of herself

“Who I am is of no concern, my client however wishes to meet you...you know them as Cerberus.”

“I have no interest or intention of meeting Cerberus unless it's when I arrest them for terrorist attack on the ambassador.” Ryker tried to keep her voice down so not to draw attention from other customers.

“The ambassador wasn't personal, it was just business...you so happened to be there as well so we thought we'd get two contracts done at once.”

“Who hired you to take me out?” Ryker was getting angry

“Now Ryker you know I'll never betray a client.” The woman chuckled and shook her finger.

“A girl had to try. What does almighty Cerberus want with me?”

“Just to talk...nothing more.” She sat so calmly

“So you say, you just told me you had a contract on me.” Ryker toyed with her chopstick...she could use that as a weapon if she needed to

“I did, but I also know the contract was closed due to the impression you'd been killed...and the client never paid.”

“But like you said nothing personal right? It was to me...you guys really know how to make a person live.” She continued to twirl her stick.

“I can imagine things were difficult..”

“Difficult? You guys branded me a traitor when you failed to kill me...so I'm gonna do one kind favor back...I will let you get up and leave right now so I can enjoy my meal...otherwise I'm gonna make a scene...and neither of us want that, do we?” Ryker lowered her tone and stared the woman in the face.

“I understand...think about what we said,” she got up and paid for their meals, “enjoy your lunch.” And with that they left.

Ryker was too upset to eat now...and the meal was paid for by Cerberus so that lost her appetite.

Le’Nassia moved closer to her, “it's ok, calm down...we will think this through...but you need to eat.”

Ryker nodded and resumed eating her meal...there had to be a reason NOW that Cerberus was reaching out to her but they didn't say...she didn't like going into discussions without having an idea what she was walking into...but even though she didn't like the idea, meeting with them might be her only option.

And she needed to get her damn omni-tool fixed.

They sat back in Naru's bunker, “how did they find me?...I did so well at staying below the radar,” Ryker paced the room.

Le'Nassia wondered the same thing, she sat drinking her coffee thinking about what they could do.

“Do you think you're mom said anything about us? Maybe Cerberus or my military sited her.” Ryker still paced.

Le'Nassia didn't like seeing Ryker this way...her brave strong soldier lost and confused, “I wouldn't think so...but I can't say for sure she wouldn't, she is more about appearances than loyalty or family,” she stood up and walked to the door, “if she thought I'd ruin her precious image by conversing with a criminal...she'd deny me and tell.” She put her cup down on the counter.

Ryker walked over to her, “ I'm sorry if I messed things up for you.”

Le'Nassia turned and looked at her, “you didn't mess anything up...you saved my sister...you've stood by me as well as helped SO many people...you've done more in your life than I could have ever imagined doing.” She reached up and touched her face, “you're one of the best people of any race I have ever met...and I'm proud of you...I love who you are...we will get through this.”

Ryker pulled her in for a hug...on the verge of crying...and she let herself cry.

Few hours passed and Ryker had falling asleep. Le'Nassia decided she'd go out and maybe find some answers or clues...her mother still had to be here.

“Naru I'm headed out for a bit...keep an eye on our girl alright?”

“Copy that,” she waved a wrench in the air.

Le'Nassia made her way to the embassies and up to her mother's room, “good afternoon Lady Artez how may I assist you today?”

One of her mother's handmaids was in the room, “is my mother around or available for a moment?”

“I'm afraid not she's in a meeting would you like me to tell her you stopped by?”

“No that won't be necessary, I'll just wait.” She took a seat at her mother's desk.

“It could be a while?” She seemed unsure what to do.

“That's fine, I have no other plans.”

“What in the Goddess is going on here,” her mother finally entered the room

“Hello mother,” Le'Nassia sat up at the desk.

“Le'Nassia? What are you doing here?” her mother looked confused.

Le'Nassia stood up and walked around the desk, “I...came to have a little chat...with my dear old mother.”

“About what?” Her mother sat down at her desk.

“An inquiry if you will,” she sat across from her, “I was visited today by someone claiming to be from Cerberus,” she picked up one of the pictures on the desk... something her mother put out for show...a happy family, “I'm confused how they knew I was even here...but more so...how they knew Ryker was here?”

The look on her mother's face just before she caught herself...priceless, “I'm not sure what you're meaning dear.”

“Oh I'm sure you don't, wouldn't want to dirty those pretty hands...better not tarnish the family am I getting warmer.”

“Someone from the human embassy inquired as to if I'd seen you and if you had a companion with you.”

“And you told them didn't you?”

“I didn't know your companion’s name until they showed me a Holo of her and I realized you'd lied to me about who was staying at our house.”

“Yes, I hid that truth from you, but did you even bother to look her files up? She is a good person who was falsely blamed for deeds not her own...if you cared to dig deeper you'd see that Cerberus was behind her wrong accounts and the ‘person’ you dealt with telling them about us works for Cerberus.”

Her mother looked at her daughter and noticed how she reacted deeply, “you love her...don't you?”

Noticing she didn't keep herself in check, her tells shown through, “yes...I truly do,” she looked at her mother, “I would do ANYTHING for her... anything.”

Her mother was slightly disappointed, but she understood how her daughter felt...for she herself loved someone that strongly once...and her family disapproval made her not pursue her heart...she couldn't do that to her daughter, “how can I assist you?”

Le'Nassia was shocked, “what?”

“How in my power can I assist you, to make up for my actions?”

“We are supposed to meet Cerberus, tomorrow I believe...if you could lend me a squad of huntresses...I know they are here, as a back up in case things go south.”

“For your protection, I will assign them...how about your old squad?” She reached for her communicator.

Le'Nassia nodded in approval.

Ryker awoke to find herself all alone yet again. she didn't know how long she'd slept, she got up from the cot and ventured out into Naru's bay.

“Ryker! How's my girl?” Naru was sitting at the engine she's been slaving over the past few days.

“Naru...you're in a cheerful mood.” Ryker smiled at her.

“Yes! I sold the one little shuttle id been trying to sell for a few months now.” She held up a glass of colored alcohol...she swerved a little.

Ryker laughed at her, “how long have you been drinking?”

“What time is it?”

“2130 (9:30p for those who don't know military).”

“Oh….ummm….10 minutes.”

“10 minutes and you're plastered!” Ryker went to take her drink away.

“Oi! Thats mine,” she pouted as her drink walked away from her.

“I'm cutting you off,” she put the drink away and turned to face her, “oh do you by chance know where Nas ran off to?” bummed that Naru was drunk because she wanted help with her omni-tool.

“I think she said to see her mother,” Naru picked up her blanket and cuddled it, “it's so nice isn't it that a daughter wants to see her mother...I lost mine at a young age so I envy those that have them,” she laid down on her cot, “what about your mother? Were you close?” She leaned up on the cot interested in Ryker's answer.

Ryker looked at the glowing light from the engine core, “if only…I was very little when my mother was taken from me...then lost my father in the military not long after… grew up alone and in homes...never connecting with anyone..or anything.” Ryker stayed staring at the light...Naru seemed as though she could cry... probably the alcohol.

Le'Nassia was walking back in during Ryker's story...she knew about her parents but not about living in foster homes. She walked in and wrapped her arms around her, “hey! There's my girl” Ryker placed her hands on Le'Nassia's arms around her.

“Nassia!” Naru sat up and flung her arms in the air, “I want a hug too!” She sat waiting.

Le'Nassia looked at Ryker, “she's been drinking..best go give her a hug too.” She chuckled.

Le'Nassia walked over to Naru and knelt down to hug her...Naru grabbed hold of her tight and hugged her... Le'Nassia wasn't sure if she was gonna let go.

10 minutes passed and Le'Nassia still held captive in Naru's embrace...but she thinks she may be asleep now...she could hear humming coming from inside her helmet...she slowly pulled herself away from a sleeping Naru.

Ryker heard the door open and Le'Nassia walked in, “she sleeping i take it?”

“Yes...I thought I was going to be a prisoner all night...she's got a strong grip.”

“Comes from making ships,” Ryker set a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Thank you.” Not much was said between them for a good long while.

“So...Naru said you went to see your mother...learn anything?”

Le'Nassia set her cup down, “she did give them the information that we were on the citadel, she felt deceived by me for not telling her who you truly were...I told her would it have mattered she wouldn't have looked into who you really were only things she's heard and seen...which would have been no credit to who you were,” she stood up and walked to the counter.

Ryker looked after her, “so she did it to protect you.”

“No she did it to protect her, I was tarnishing her perfect world...but then she understood...that I love you and for some reason, with that she agreed to help us.”

Ryker was confused, “help us? How?”

"We will go meet with Cerberus tomorrow there's no getting around that...but we won't be going alone...my old huntress squad will be accompanying us, to protect us if we need it.” She looked to see if Ryker felt betrayed.

Ryker shook her head in approval, “sounds good ..I welcome the help, thank you for trying.” She smiled up at her.

“You're not angry with me?”

“Should I be? You went out of your way to help I have no right to be mad at you.”

“But I never told you,” she felt she should be angry at her.

Ryker put her hand on Le'Nassia's, “well I'm not.” She smiled at her, “what I am is tired...and ready for all this to be over...so you and I can run away, to a place where no one knows of us...and we drift off into the void of life...together...always.”

“That sounds fantastic.” They both went and laid on the cot, looking up at the slated window at the stars...so many options.

Morning came all too soon, Ryker for one was not ready to wake but she had to, and if all went well today she could leave here...clear her name and free. She opened the door to step outside into the bay.

“Ryker think quieter I have a hangover!”

“Naru you had a sip or so of alcohol...you light weight!”

“Don't speak of such evil things...never use that word again.”

“What word?... alcohol?”

“YES! That word... forbidden!” Naru's head fell back to the cot.

“Hey why don't you move inside it's quieter and we're off to our meeting anyway so we will be gone a while. I can carry you if you like?”

“Mmmm to be carried by the famous Ryker...yes please,” she waved her arms waiting to be picked up.

Ryker chuckled then leaned over picking her up and carried her through the threshold of her bunker, “you're carrying her?” Le'Nassia chuckled at a snuggled in Naru.

“Yes this one time I am, I figured it would be quieter in here and we will be gone a while.” Le'Nassia thought probably wise not leaving a drunk quarian out there, “are we set to go?”

Le'Nassia handed her all her gear, “yes I checked over the gear a few times all is well and I contacted my squad the are in route to the location...was smart picking the club as the meet up place somewhere public.”

“Yeah but knowing Cerberus they're already there and most of the customers around will be them…”

“Not all...6 Asari will be us.” She smiled at her, “this will work and then we're free...finally some answers.”

Ryker checked her gun, “yeah or a trap.”

“BE SAFE! Love you both!” Naru yelled from the bed as they walked out the door.

“Love you too Naru,” Ryker laughed and locked it up.

Purgatory...a nightclub bar owned by Aria after Omega was taken from her...if she knew Cerberus was there she would flip out...one reason why Ryker picked the spot. Ryker had an interaction once with Aria, she had pissed Aria off at one point...but then by the end of the situation she changed how she felt...she stated she saw a bit of commander Shepard in her which is the only reason she didn't kill Ryker...Aria was the only person to ever best Ryker...but that was early on in her career as a N7...after that they still had dealings but it was Aria's lackies Ryker met with never Aria...today though she knew it would be Aria if they had issues.

Pleasant music played inside, Le'Nassia could see a few of her girls...one was tending the bar, two were dancing...the other three were around somewhere but probably good she didn't know, Aria is always accommodating when she asks for things favor for favor...being the senator's daughter can get her a lot of pull in places.

They found a seat inside and waited for the party to begin.

Not long after the woman they met the other day joined them at their table, “greetings I'm here on behalf of my client I welcome you to join us in the VIP booth.” She jesters they follow her.

Ryker looked at Le'Nassia, they looked around the room and noticed at least one dancer would be near them and maybe one more Asari near the bar itself.

When they entered the room there was a gentleman with two Asari around him...two of the others Le'Nassia had been looking for so this faired well.

“Greetings, my dear friends, it's an honor...please join us.” The gentleman motioned for them to take a seat, “would either of you care for a drink? Or maybe a girl?" one of the Asari went and sat on Ryker's lap, between Le'Nassia and her, she flirted a little with Ryker but handed Le'Nassia something behind her back...in turn Le'Nassia felt up the asari's back and hid a small knife in her bra.

“As appreciative as this is I'd like to get down to business and discuss why it is you wanted to meet me.” Ryker eyed him.

He smiled at her, and stood up, “ my name is Petrovsky, General Petrovsky...I was second in command to the illusive man back during commander Shepard's time.”

“I remember hearing about you...you're a brave man for being here knowing Aria runs this club,” Ryker looked at him confused, “but I thought the alliance took control of you after Aria almost killed you in exchange for Cerberus Intel...how did you manage here?”

“Good question, I gave alliance small details of minor incidents to get them to trust my word, then I gave them a big lie of which while on mission I was able to escape and be rescued by Cerberus...and now with the illusive man gone and our forces dwindled to nothing I took over and rebuilt some of what we lost.” He took a sip of his Brandy, “we might not have the pull we used to have or the funding but there are still a few of us around and we're just bigger than hired guns.”

“Which is how you were able to jack up my life.” Ryker picked up the Brandy that was offered to her.

“To be fair Ms. Ryker we were supposed to end it, but we underestimated you...most impressive.” He raised his glass to her.

“Who wanted me dead?” Ryker locked eyes with him.

He sat in silence a moment, another sip from his Brandy, “to be honest...your mother.”

The shock washed across her face, “my mother? But my mother is dead killed by your people after some scientific experiment she conducted.”

He smiled, “that was the lie told to protect one of our most valued agents...she died being Alice Ryker, and was reborn anew...but some little genius girl got too close to one of our operations and we knew had you gotten any further you'd discover her...so we put a hit out on you...and what luck we had we landed the ambassador contract as well and you were his escort...couldn't have planned it better if I wrote a symphony.”

“So the Volus ambassador was a means to an end, they wanted the Ulcor ambassador killed?”

“They did, along with some turian support.” he waved for another Brandy.

“But the ambassador was Elcor, what harm was he doing that required his death?”

“Have you ever listened to one of their speeches? Or seen their plays? Hamlet still haunts me till this day...they take to long to explain anything with adding their emotive monotone speaking…it was bound to annoy someone...plus the job he was doing the Volus wanted...with the Elcor out of the way the Volus gets it.” The General shrugged.

“So I'll ask again...why am I here?” Ryker was getting antsy...something didn't feel right about it all.

“I wanted to see what you were all about but now my curiosity has been sated, you walked so freely into my grasp thinking you'd be safe?”

“I was told we would just be talking...but of course I never feel safe, comes with the job.” as she shrugged

“Yes you N7s are a thorn in the side, belonging to a group mixed with other races...at least the Asari have some pride and belong to their own group huntresses.” He pulled the other girl onto his lap, “aren't they brilliant creatures? I see you have one you enjoy yourself sitting over there," he felt up the asari on his lap, "magnificent beings truly...but even with all their beauty and brilliance they never see what's right in front of them.” In that moment Ryker knew they were screwed.

General Petrovsky stuck his omniblade through the asari's abdomen and the look of shock on her face as they saw it protruding from her, the other near Ryker charged at the General but the woman in the suit shot her...once the shot rang out the dancer and the bartender headed over to the room.

The General stood up, dropping the Asari to the floor from his lap, “always so messy...but I need to clean up what my groups didn't finish before...so like Ms. Clein told you the other day, “it's nothing personal, just business.” He raised his omniblade to her as Ms. Clein pointed her gun at Le’Nassia.

Ryker had to think, and quick...she spun off the booth kicking the general in the face knocking him off balance..ms.clein went to shoot Ryker, but Le'Nassia tried to disarm her. As Ryker got back up to see them fighting she ran over just as Ms. Clein pulled another gun from her blouse. Ryker managed to push Le'Nassia out the door into the arms of two huntresses about to charge in as the gun went off...lodging itself in Ryker's abdomen.

Le'Nassia saw it happen as she fell back into the asari's arms...it happened so slow motion but Ryker looked at her as she grabbed her side, “NO!”

Ryker turned, in pain, pulled out her pistol and attempted to shoot Ms. Clein but was unable to, Le'Nassia took a gun from one of her huntresses and in turn shot Ms.Clein square in the temple dropping her to the ground. The general was just coming back to when he watched his second in command fall to the ground, “well this won't do, she was one of my favorites...looks like I'll have to finish this.” He charged at her with his omni-blade but a blue blast came from outside the room...Ryker looked up in haze as a purple Asari came into view...Aria T’Loak.

“Oh shit, Aria?” The General stood from the broken booth and table he fell into.

“General Petrovsky...son of a bitch you're still alive...looks like I'll actually get to kill you this time," she looked annoyed and satisfied, "and finish what we started all those years ago.”

The general put his hands up, “now why would we want to bring all that back up huh?”

“Why in the world would you walk willingly into my club?” she walked over and grabbed up the general's jacket pulling him in.

“Your club, I didn't realize or trust me I probably wouldn't have..they picked the spot and I didn't think much about it..figured you'd be back on Omega since you took it back.”

“Yes well I have both,” Aria looked back and saw a wounded Ryker and a pissed off Le'Nassia, “and it seems you've hurt my friends...I can't let that fly...not here.”

“Aria we can work things out, I'll repay you for the damages and I'll never come back, what do you say?” He looked genuinely scared of her and he had all right too, she almost strangled him to death with her biotics last time.

“Mmmm I'll pass you seem to keep bringing trouble and I'm tired of having it.” With that she sent one more big biotic ball hurling at the General...and he was no more, just a pile of clothes on the floor.

Ryker saw him go down, then passed out in Le'Nassia's arms.

"Ryker! Ryker!" La'Nassia called to her holding her close and tapping her face to try and wake her back up.

Aria and two other asari members gathered Ryker up and ran down the hall to Aria's penthouse as Aria called in a doctor.

Ryker woke not long later in a spare room off Aria's penthouse...the pain all to real, “hey” she weakly called out to Le'Nassia.

“Hey!” Le'Nassia ran to her side, “how are you feeling?”

“I've felt better…” Ryker winced, “is it over?”

“Yes Aria took care of it, he's gone...not sure about what more we can do to find your mother but the General and his second are no more...thanks to you in part as well...for saving me.”

“Yeah I took one for the team,” Ryker joked and coughed.

“You need to rest, we're waiting for a surgeon to come look at you to remove that bullet in your gut.” She looked like she'd cry.

“Hey it's not your fault, I did this...I couldn't let you get hurt from my mistake...I should have known they'd try to kill me.”

“None of us saw it...I lost two of my squad mates and they were some of the best my race had to offer for stealth and skill...it wasn't just us.”

“I'm sorry about your girls,” Ryker held her hand.

“They were good, and knew the risk...and we avenged them…but I need you to rest...please.”

"I promise," Ryker reached into her pocket, "Nas, I want you to hold onto this for me, until all this is over." She handed her the N7 dog tags she had been wearing.

Le'Nassia nodded and cried, Ryker smiled at her and fell back to sleep.

A surgeon showed up almost an hour later, and had Le'Nassia leave the room so they had the ability to take care of her.

“Ryker? I'll be right outside, if anything happens or you need me I'll be here.” Ryker nodded and Le'Nassia kissed her forehead.

The human surgeon and his Asari nurse went inside to try and help save Ryker.

Hours had passed without a word, ambassador Hackett had come by at one point to discuss things with Le'Nassia and to check up on Ryker...but with no new news he went back to his office to write it up.

Le'Nassia sat in the quiet empty hallway, looking over the tags in her hand.

Councilor Ateza even came down after hearing from Aria and two of her huntresses what happened to support Le'Nassia.

“No word as of yet?” Her mother sat next to her

“No, none.” She said weakly staring at the door, “I feel like something is wrong and they won't tell me.”

“You can't think that way, stay positive for her and yourself...if she's as tough as you say she is...she will pull through.” She put her hand on Le'Nassia's shoulder and watched as her daughter cried.

Le'Nassia had fallen asleep on her mother's lap, she hadn't done that since she was little...she stroked her head to try and soothe her while she slept.

The Asari nurse finally came out, “Nassia,” her mother woke her gently, “the nurse is coming.”

Le'Nassia sat up and nervously waited to hear what she had to say...she didn't look too happy but it could have been that she's tired from hours of working, “Le'Nassia, madam Councilor...I hate to be the one to inform you but Sgt. Ryker has passed.”

The shock to Le'Nassia hit hard and she fell to the floor, her mother felt bad for her, “nurse what happened?”

The nurse looked at the Councilor, “she'd sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen...and had lost a lot of blood the bullet pierced a few internal organs then lodged itself in her stomach..where she proceeded to bleed out internally...I am terribly sorry for your loss.” At that the nurse walked away...leaving a broken Le'Nassia on the floor to grieve.