A lot of explaining

“What… what happened?” Liara said. “I saw… I saw you sign that contract… and then Brooks came in and injected something in my neck.”

“You’re a genius,” Shepard said. “That’s what happened. And I… I’m such an idiot. After I signed the contract and Ashley revealed the contents of it, I felt so betrayed and angry… and sad. I didn’t know what to do. And then Tali proposed an idea of having a one on one session and I felt so… so used… so… lost… Tali ended up winning… but she explained that she had had no knowledge of this. She helped me get to the Normandy. That’s when we found your equipment. It was in the Starboard Cargo. I guess your… clone moved it there. I found an encrypted file. The place where it started. I remembered what you said to me in the dream. Thessia. So I put that in… and… Oh God… I saw you on the screen… I’m guessing through the cameras Brooks was using. I saw Brooks inject that stuff into your neck along with Ash and Miranda. I recognized the station and with Tali’s help I had Joker arrange a raid. It was just us against Brooks and her men. We rescued everyone. Most of them were out of sorts, but not ****. And then we got to you three… I… I thought… I really thought I lost you. We had you guys moved to the Normandy. Chakwas luckily wasn’t in too bad of a shape. She helped you three back to the land of the living. So far you’re the first to wake up. I’m so sorry…”

Liara shook her head. “No, I am… I saw what… what that clone did to you. Everything. I watched her destroy you. I thought you were… I was so scared that Brooks had her way with you. Shepard… I need to tell you this. I… I was confronted with a choice… Brooks had horrible horrible **** on you. Things that would ruin you. She made me choose between letting the galaxy see you during your most intimate… most **** moments or to make you sign a contract the horrible horrible endless contract. And… I… I chose the contract. I did this to you… on the Citadel… that was me…and in that moment I had every intention to find a plan that would make you sign the contract…”

Shepard nodded. “Thank you for telling me the truth,” she said. “But… I understand… and I’m not mad. I’m just glad you’re okay. I know you were put in a difficult position. And it’s okay… I’ll be okay… besides if I have to be owned by you for the rest of my life…. I guess… I guess there are worse things… now… I’m going to let Chakwas come back in… I’ll be in my cabin when you get back on your feet.”

“Wait,” Liara said. “The clones…”

“Have been eliminated,” Shepard said. “Once I knew they existed, C-Sec and the guys got rid of them all.”

“And Brooks?” Liara asked.

Shepard paused. “Brooks is… subdued. We can talk more later.”