Disclaimer: I don't own anything bioware has done and make no profit in this
This is an interesting AU fic I thought of doing a long while ago. The Idea comes through the alternate reality episodes in star trek, where the Federation is an empire instead. I got the idea of using the Sol-Federation I created in this fic form the fascist style government in star-ship troopers. a lot of things are similar to that later on. I have a set plot, but I'm not sure how long this fic will be in the end. Updates will be slow while I still work on finishing the last act for my Resident evil fic, after that will see. Also I do make grammer issues here and there, and I do plan On re-editing the fic after its finished again. But until then, expect mistakes here and there.
What would you do to get back your loved one? Would you sacrifice everything you know and love to just hold that person again? Ashley would, she couldn't bear losing John Shepard again. It has been almost three weeks since that day. The day the reapers were finally defeated, but at what cost. After a week stranded on some unknown planet making repairs, they found out the fate of their commander. His body was found in the citadel, with no sign of life what so ever. Two weeks after mourning his death, the Normandy had finally made it back to the Sol system.
Ashley didn't know if she could go through this a second time. The body, at least what was left of it was here this time. However, She didn't want to see it, couldn't bear to see him in such a state. Ashley still hasn't even heard from the rest of her family. She dreaded the fact that they were probably dead as well. Everyone in the Normandy was doing their best to give her some space, even though some tried to talk to her, giving her some form of comfort.
She had been sitting in the loft of the ship, Shepard's cabin for the past day now. Not even stepping out the get a bite to eat. Sitting next to her on the bed was her sidearm. She was religious, she didn't believe in suicide, yet it seemed so much easier. She honestly didn't even know what she believed in at the moment. If there was a god, how could she be punished like this again? Nothing about it was right, nothing at all.
She finally grabbed a hold of the weapon, thinking of all the good moments she had with her family, and john. Before she could squeeze the trigger the comm. Link went open, with joker on the other line.
"Bridge to Commander Williams" Joker spoke through the ships comm.
Ashley threw the weapon aside, wondering why in the world she would think of doing such a thing, she sighed before replying to Joker. "What is it Joker?"
"Your presence is required in engineering, something wrong with the mass effect core" Joker explained
Ashley quickly sat up from the bed, making her way to the lift. "I'm on my way"
Those silent few seconds in the life gave Ashley a realization with what she could have just done. She was a Commander in the Alliance fleet, with John gone; with the whole galaxy trying to rebuild it would be selfish to take her own life. Shepard saved the galaxy; it was now up to people like her to keep the peace he longed for.
The lift doors opened in engineering, coming out Ashley turned to coroner, heading towards the core. It was late in the shift; with only engineer Adams waiting for her.
"Commander" Adams said, saluting towards her.
Ashley sighed at this; she didn't know why the crew had to be so formal with her. She just wanted the crew to be just as casual with her as they were with Shepard. "What is it Adams?" Ashley asked while giving a yawn. What she needed was sleep, but she couldn't, not with all the nightmares she had from them. At least she could keep herself a float with the work of the ship and crew.
"Ma'am, something has been off with the core. I just thought you would like to be informed personally" Adams explained.
She knew why he was having her stop by. The crew knew she wanted a distraction, and she was happy to oblige.
"Okay, is there anything I can do to help?" She asked, while nodding.
"Yes Ma'am, could you check the terminal by the core, while I use the one right here" he explained, pointing to his station in engineering. "If any warning indicators come up in my diagnostic yell out to me"
"Alright" Ashley replied, walking towards the console closest to the core. "Ready" Ashley stated, as she took her position.
Adams gave a thumb up, running the test. While he did so everything looked to be in order, until…. "Adams, something is wrong here…." She tried to say, as a blue energy erupted from the console.
Adams turned, seeing what was happening enfold before his very eyes." Commander!" Adams yelled, as Ashley was being sucked into the energy.
…
Ashley tried to stand from what felt like the biggest hangover she had ever had. Her uniform was badly burned, and bashed up. She would have to replace that, but the engineering deck was darker than she remembered, and different, yet familiar at the same time.
"Adams!" She yelled out loud, with no reply given.
Her vision was starting to get better, and she now noticed she wasn't in engineering, at least the engineering she remembered. The room was very dark; the core looked to be barely giving out any sign of power. She tried to walk around, nearly tripping on something. Looking down She nearly screamed at the sight before her. It was a body, but not just anybody, it was engineer Adams.
Ashley Kneeled next to the body of Adams, noticing something was off. He looked to have been dead for maybe weeks, but how could that be possible? Not only that, but the uniform he was wearing wasn't familiar to her in any way. It was a darkish grey uniform, and the patch on the sleeve instead of being an alliance symbol, looked to be the shape of some bird.
An emergency red light started flickering, as if the power of the ship was delayed. She now noticed the room she was in. It was the engineering deck of the first Normandy, but how was that even possible?
She knew the best way to find answers were to head towards the CIC. So she entered the corridor that led toward the Cargo hold of the ship, turning to corner at the end to take the lift, luckily it was still operational. She noticed the ship's cargo hold was even Darker than the engineering, so she avoided it for now. Coming up to a semi brighter crew deck, she could see a few unfamiliar bodies around, all in the same uniform, they looked to have either died by an explosion, or weapons fire.
She was about to take the stairs towards the CIC, when Ashley took notice of the old Captain's cabin. She saw a name on the door, but something wasn't right about it. It read CPT. Shepard. Nothing was making since, while Shepard was once indeed the commander of this ship, that's not even suppose to be here, he never made the rank Captain. She decided to go inside the Cabin.
The Door slid open, and Ashley went towards the closet, seeing if any uniform inside would fit her. And to her surprise they were all her size for some reason. They were all the same Grey Uniforms that the bodies in the ship were wearing. On the Shelf above the clothes rack, laid a few black berets, all with that same unfamiliar symbols on it. She ignored that for now; as she undressed her torn up alliance uniform, changing into the unfamiliar grey one.
Now wearing the strange uniform she was about continue on towards the CIC, when she took notice of a single Picture frame on the desk In the Cabin. As she stood closer towards the frame, it lit up revealing the picture. Ashley smiled at the sight, but she was confused at it as well. She never remembered taking such a picture in her life, but she wish she had. IT was her and John, standing next to each other smiling. They were however both wearing the grey Uniforms instead of their alliance blues for some reason.
There were so many questions to be asked, and she wanted answers. She figured her original plan to head towards CIC was still here best bet. As she left the cabin, Ashley heard a loud thud sound coming from the CIC above her. IT sounded as if someone had just docked with the ship. She grabbed a sidearm from the nearest body, not taking any chances of who it could be. The weapon was different, it looked similar to the standard issued once In the alliance, but she had never seen this module before.
Walking slowly up the stairs, weapon at the ready, she thought she could hear the sound of someone cutting through the hull of the ship. She quickened her pacing, making her way towards the sound of the cutting. The CIC was the same as she remembered, but the walls were a different color, they were painted in a darkish Grey, similar, but darker than the uniform she currently wore. Unlike the Crew deck there were no bodies in the CIC. All the consoles from the crew stations were flickering, as the emergency red lights continued to flash throughout the ship.
Ashley was now standing at the source of the cutting; it was coming from the airlock, right next to the ships cockpit. She aimed her weapon at the Airlock, waiting for whatever was on the other side. The cutting stopped, and a few seconds passed before the door was pried open. The light from the now opened door blinded her, she could see a figured standing within the light, but she couldn't make out what it was.
"Jesus, ash is that you?" the figure asked, sounding really surprised to see her, but she knew that voice anywhere, that was.
"Kaidan?" Ashley blurted out, as she held her hand in front of her face to block to source of the light. Her eyes started adjusting, and she could now clearly see what she shouldn't be. "You're…you're supposed to be dead" Ashley stated, clearly seeing that her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. She was now wondering if she was dead, but she didn't fell dead.
Kaidan laughed, relieved at the sight of her. "Speak for yourself, you were reported MIA, than KIA nearly six months ago" Kaidan Explained, slowly walking towards her.
Ashley could see Kaidan as clear as day now. He was wearing the same Grey Uniform she wore, as well as a black beret that she had seen in the closet in the cabin. He also wore an even darker shade of grey set of Body armor, yet it didn't cover his entire body. The rifle he held in his hands was also something Ashley had never seen. The barrel was longer than a standard issue alliance weapon, and the frame looked to be something from an ancient Earth weapon. Except were the Magazine of those weapons were suppose to be, was replaced with an unfamiliar thermal clip.
"Wait a minute" Ashley said, thinking to what Kaidan just told her. "Did you say Six months?" She asked
Kaidan nodded, as three other soldiers in the same gear as Kaidan walked in, heading towards the CIC. "Yeah Captain, you're lucky we found your ship when we did. Are there any other survivors?" He asked, looking towards the CIC.
Ashley thought about the bodies below deck, and how she noticed she had been alone this entire time, so she shook her head. "N…no" She stuttered.
Kaidan tapped a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "Hay its okay, we're here now.. You have no idea how happy John will be at the sight of you, maybe you could talk some since into him. You know he went Crazy the day you were reported KIA"
This had got Ashley's fullest attention, she just stared at Kaidan. "J…Johns Alive?" She asked, feeling like she was just about to cry, not only was her old friend Kaidan standing right in front of her, even though he shouldn't. John was also alive; her knees trembled at this revelation, as she nearly fainted on the ground.
Kaidan took notice of this, and caught her instantly. "Hay hay, don't faint on me" He chuckled, but noticed she wasn't responding. Taking a closer look at Ashley Kaidan could see she literately had just fainted. Kaidan looked towards his men, who were awaiting further orders. "Alright, let's get Captain Shepard out of her, she needs medical treatment" He ordered, the three Federation Soldiers in his squad passed him by, as Kaidan grabbed the sergeant. "And Contact Marshal Shepard, let him know we found his wife"
Shepard couldn't believe what news he had just received. He didn't want to get his hopes up when his XO took a shuttle over to what was left standing of the Normandy. They got lucky when they had found it in the first place. His carrier group shouldn't even be this far out past Federation space, but he was glad he extended his patrol now. The crews of his Carrier weren't too happy with the thought of extending their patrol this close to their relief date, but they knew never to argue with a Marshal.
"Marshal?" The voice next to him spoke. Shepard turned to see it was his Aide, Sergeant Vega.
"What is it Sergeant?" Shepard replied in his usual harsh tone, they were both standing in the CIC of the Carrier Atlantic. Shepard commanded the twelfth Federation Battle group. The CIC In a federation Carrier was bigger than any other ship in the fleets. IT had to be, as carriers acted as either flag ships, or command ship to fleets. They always had an escort of destroyers and cruisers, sometimes even a dreadnought or two, depending on the size of the battle group. Shepards group had 4 cruisers and 3 destroyers.
"I just thought you would like to know that Commander Alenkos shuttle is landing sir" Vega explained.
Shepard turned towards the exit of the CIC, not even giving the sergeant a reply. He knew to always follow the Marshal, unless instructed otherwise. So like always, he followed.
Shepard quickened his pace towards the nearest left in the long corridors of the Carrier, making his way towards one of the four hanger bays. Kaidan always used Hanger three. So Sheppard knew which lift to take. Taking the long trip down in the lift, shepard decided to try and make some form of conversation to ease his Aids nerves.
"Have you heard from the federal Council?" Shepard asked, holding his hands behind his back, with Vega standing by his side.
Vega turned to look at Shepard. "Yes sir, your mother…I Mean Councilor Shepard Wishes for you to make contact after the battle group has been relived by Admiral Anderson"
Shepard should have lunged at his Aide for being unprofessional for that second he called the councilor his mother, but he didn't. After all he was finally going to be reunited with his wife. He decided to leave him be for now.
The lift stopped as they reached their destination. The doors slid opened, and Shepard was nearly running towards Kaidans shuttle in the hanger bay. If Shepard wasn't paying attention at all he would have almost ran into a platoon of marines drilling in the hanger. Luckily the platoon took notice of their Marshal, and stopped mid drill, saluting Shepard, but he didn't bother to return one.
Shepard was now standing outside Kaidans shuttle, as the hatch began to open up. He wanted to tear his way inside, but waited for everyone to come out. First Kaidans trusted squad of Federation Marines came out, with them and the pilot out Kaidan stood next, along with his Wife leaning on him. Without thinking he rushed to her side, taking her out of Kaidans arms.
Her eyes were barely open, but she recognized who was now holding her. Without thinking the two took a very long and passionate Kiss, as they embraced. He could hear the sounds of whistles come from Kaidans marines, but at the moment Shepard didn't care.
"I'll leave you two alone Marshal, my report will be on your desk first thing next shift" Kaidan said, while John just nodded, not taking his eyes off Ashley.
"John, is…is that really you" Ashley sobbed in his arms.
Shepard nodded, as he kissed the top of his head. "Yeah Ash it's me" Shepard now stepped back from Ashley, looking towards the sound of someone who shouldn't be here.
"Sorry Marshal, I couldn't stop him" Sergeant Vega explained, as the four year old rushed towards Ashley. The Crew always let the child roam the ship, as long as he stayed out of restricted areas, but with the word of what was happening, the boy was smart enough to find his own way.
"Mommy" The boy cried, as he rushed into Ashley's arms. Shepard noticed Ashley was puzzled about this; she never acted this way around her own son. "They said you no come home mommy" the boy sobbed into her arms. Shepard saw Ashley finally took the boy into his arms, but he could tell she felt really awkward about it.
Shepard took his son out of his wife's arms. "Okay kiddo, let's give your mom some room" Shepard said, setting him down on the deck of the hanger bay. He looked towards his wife. "Ash, what's wrong, I'm your husband talk to me"
"Husband?" Ashley questioned, and this was scarring him. "And who is this?" Ashley asked pointing to what was supposed to be her son. "John, nothing is making any sense"
Now Shepard was definitely scared, how could she remember him, but not remember that they were married and had a son. Did she have some sort of amnesia? "Ash, let's get you to medical and check out" Shepard said taking her hand, but she tugged it back.
"Not until I get some Answers John" Ashley nearly yelled, scarring their son to death. "and what the hell is that symbol on your uniform, I've been seeing it everywhere"
"Ash, how could you not know that it represents the Sol Federation?" with that he could see Ashley was speechless of what to say. So he took her hand again, whether she wanted to let him or not. "Okay now where definitely getting you to medical"
Ashley gave up, as she let Shepard take her hand. "Fine" she sighed, but looked towards John. "But I want answers later"
Shepard nodded. "Ash, if this is some Amnesia your having we're here to help you see through this, I'll let the doc give you a terminal to look at, you can look at anything you want to try and help you remember"
Before Shepard could take her any further, his son tugged on Ashley's leg. "mommy can you carry me?" Their son asked.
Shepard stopped, as Ashley took a knee to meet the boy. "I'm sorry if I scared you, but I can't seem to remember any of this" she explained, but for some reason Shepard could tell she was lying about something, he did know his own wife after al. "So, can you help me remember" Ashley asked their son, and he nodded, which made Ash smile. "Good, now what's your name again?"
" Tyler" Their son said, and for some reason that name startled her.
"You know, that's what my father's name was" She stated, and this weird amnesia was even puzzling Shepard more so. How could she remember her own father's name, the name they used for their own son? And now know everything else?
Tyler nodded as Ashley smiled, finally giving in as she took her supposedly son in her arms.
To say the trip in the lift being awkward was being modest. Never before had the Shepard family been so quiet. Shepard's aide took notice of this, but kept quiet, as to not make the Marshal even madder at him today. The lifts door opened, as the group walked through the corridor towards Medical, when suddenly the ship shook in explosion as the battle alarms went off.
Shepard looked towards Vega. "Get my family towards medical sergeant, I need to head to CIC" Shepard yelled, as the sergeant nodded, guiding Ashley down the corridor.
"John!?" Ashley nearly shouted towards Shepard, but he shook his head towards her.
"Later Ash, I've got a whole battle group to worry about" Shepard explained, running down the other end of the corridor towards CIC.
With his family in safe hands Shepard rushed to the command center in CIC, looking towards his command crew. "Report" Shepard yelled.
"Turian scout fleet Marshal, about three cruisers. The bastards are crazy to take a shot at us" One of his crewmen, the one right under Kaidan in the Command chain explained.
Shepard took his position in the center of the CIC. "Alright scramble squadrons to intercept, make sure Our cruisers take flanking maneuver…." Shepard tried to order, but another crewmember yelled out.
"Sir, two dreadnaughts on our right flank, shit they were hiding in the asteroid field"
"Calm down, we just need to hold on" Shepard yelled back at the crewmember. But things weren't looking too good.
He could see the battle raging on the screens around him, and they were slowly being pushed back.
…..
"Is everything alright?" Ashley asked, as doctor Chakwas, another good familiar sight for Ash, was checking her over.
The doctor smiled, as she looked over her examination. "I'm sure your Husband has everything under control." The doctor reassured. Tyler was left in the other room, with Vega watching over him.
Ashley was glad for all these familiar faces, but nothing was right here. IT was if she had been placed in another universe, just thinking of that made her think she was having a bad dream, but was it a bad dream. Earlier today she was wishing for anything to have John back, and now he was. Not only that she had her friend Kaidan back, but she wasn't sure what to think of her own son.
In truth the boy looked like the image of both her and John. He had her Brown eyes, but John's facial structure. And Ashley knew she would give anything to ever have a Child with John. So maybe this was indeed a dream come true.
"Here" Doctor Chakwas said, taking Ashley out of her thoughts as she handed her some kind of terminal pad.
"What is this?" Ashley asked, as the screen turned on.
"I was informed that you had some sort of amnesia, and Marshal Shepard wanted to let you look over some things, I have everything in basic history and information set to try and help you remember. I'm just going to finish looking over these reports and, oh…." Doctor Chakwas stopped, as if she had just learned some really bad news.
Ashley looked up from the terminal towards the doctor. "Is something wrong?" She asked concerned if something had indeed happened to her.
The Doctor now looked back towards Ash, giving her a fake smile that made her nervous. "No nothing at all. If you'll excuse me" Doctor Chakwas said, walking out of the Medical room.
Not being able to learn what was really going on Ashley decided to use this time to answer her questions that she has been wanting asked all day. The terminal started up, and she looked at basic history on what was called the Sol-Federation.
Reading over its basic history, Ashley learned that history was all wrong here, or at least wrong where she was from. It explained a military takeover coup in the Unites states in the early twenty first century. How a democracy was turned into some sort of fascist military run government over the course of two months. Than how the newly constructed Earth Federation annexed nearby countries, like Canada and Mexico, as well as nearly the entirety of central and South America. Which lead to a forty year long global war. In the end the Earth federation controlled the entire planet, with a handful of civil wars and resistance here and there. It wasn't until nearly a hundred years later that Mars, and other Sol colonies tried to rebel again, starting the Great Sol War. Of course the federation was successful in three year long conflict, that inflicted many causalities in the first recorded space battle in human history.
It wasn't until the discovery of the prothean ruins and the relay that the federation prepared for the contact with alien life, with the intension of not being friendly in any way. In fact the Federation was as anti alien as anyone could get. Probably even more so from the Cerberus that Ashley grew to hate. The federation constructed the largest fleets the galaxy had ever seen, for the impending probable attacks from alien life. Of course this lead to the first contact war turning out differently, but this time in humanist favor. When the council showed itself to humanity, the Federation immediately declared war on the council, not hearing a single word from their mouths.
And now that same war started back in that day, was still going on now. Ashley couldn't believe what she was reading; no wonder everything felt so strange. This indeed wasn't her universe, she knew that for a fact, but could she be happy here? She shut down the terminal, figuring she learned enough for now. She could only wait for the battle that was raging on at this moment to end, and for John, a John that wasn't even hers explained more about her life, that wasn't her life.
….
"Pull back our squadrons" Shepard ordered, but it was too late, the Turians had intercepted them. Nothing was looking good here, nothing at all.
"Marshal, picking up multiple contacts behind us" A crewman yelled.
Sheaprd had to think, and think fast. "Have are destroyers make an interce…"
"Sir picking up Federation transponders from the new contacts" The crewman said in excitement.
"Verify that" Shepard ordered back.
"Its verified Sir, its admiral Anderson"
Shepard sighed in relive. He looked at the view screens, seeing Anderson's fleet heading towards the remaining turian Ships, making them turn and run with their tails between their legs. A main communication screen over Shepard opened with the image of Anderson.
"Glad to see you in peace Marshal" Anderson said with a grin on his face.
Shepard smiled. "Well it's about time; my crew has been ready for this shore leave you know"
"Yes sir, I shouldn't Keep your group waiting then, Oh and Marshal" Anderson asked, as if he had something else to add.
"What is It?" Shepard asked.
"Lieutenant Commander Shepard Is here, sent to personally escort you back to Sol. Her shuttle is underway"
"Copy that, Marshal out" Shepard replied shutting his comm. off. He turned to see his XO finally standing in the CIC.
"Am I late?" Kaidan asked, and Shepard couldn't hold in his laughter.
"The bridge is yours, oh and my Sisters apparently here, so be good when she arrives Commander" Shepard explained,
"Yes marshal, wouldn't dream of boring your time about your sister and My….."
Shepard held up his hand, not wanting to hear about his XO and sisters private time. "Just tell Jane to stop by my office later"
"Understood Shepard"
Shepard had made his way back to Medical, with Doctor Chakwas standing in the lobby waiting for him. His son was sitting quietly playing with one of his toy models, while Sergeant Vega kept an eye on him.
"Is everything alright?" Shepard asked, the Doctor shook her head.
"When was the last time you saw your wife?" She asked
"Six months you know that, now what's wrong?" Shepard tried to keep his voice down, now to scare his son anymore today.
"I…I don't know how to tell you this John, but she's pregnant" The doctor explained, trying to be as quiet as possible, not to be overheard.
'Pregnant?' Shepard asked, trying to understand what he was being told.
The doctor nodded. "Yes about three weeks, and before you go mouthing her off about cheating on you, that's why I asked when was the last time you saw here, because the child is indeed yours"
Shepard was stunned, how could this be possible. She was pregnant with his child, be he hasn't seen her in over six months, and barely being three weeks in. Nothing made sense, but then again how was she able to survive that long In the Normandy by herself, with what little supplies it had left. This somehow connected with her not knowing a lot of things about her life, it had to be. But before he could go in to talk to her his son Tyler was standing below him.
"Daddy, when can I see mommy?" Tyler asked.
Shepard keeled down to his level. "Soon kiddo, but I have to spend some time with your mom alone." With this Tyler looked really disappointed, but Shepard knew how the cheer him up. "Tell you what, how does spending some time with Aunt Jane sound?" Shepard asked, and he could see his son's eyes light up to this.
"Really?" He asked, sounding all excited.
Shepard smiled at his son's excitement. "Yes really" he now looked towards His aide. "Sergeant" Vega now stood awaiting orders. "Lieutenant Commander Shepard is docking on the ship, see to it that my son makes it to her"
The sergeant saluted towards Shepard. "Yes Marshal" Vega replied, taking Tyler's hand, as they walked out of the Medical sector.
Shepard took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to work out this whole situation, but the best way he could think about was to wing it. He walked in the examination room, where Ashley laid in silence, She looked towards Shepard as he closed the door behind him.
"John…." She tried to talk, but Shepard held out his hand to stop her.
"Let's get one things straightened out, I know you're not my Ashley" Shepard blurted out, it was a guess, but with Ashley's Reaction he knew he was spot on. "I've seen a lot of strange things, but you surviving in the Normandy alone for over six months, not to mention you're three weeks pregnant with my kid, and I haven't even seen you since you disappeared. "
She started crying to herself at first learning about this. "You…you're not my John, but you are…..and now I'm just finding out I'm carrying the child of a dead man, that's not dead, but is"
"Dead?" what she was saying earlier, not something was starting to make some since.
"You…you died stopping the reapers" She explained. "That was the second time I lost you, and now that you're standing in front of me again, I don't know what to say"
Shepard huffed, as he sat down next to her. "I guess fate has a strange way of bringing two people back together, listen I know you're not an imposter, it's like you said about me. You're her, but you're not. I guess God has a funny way of doing things" Ashley smiled passed her tears, as Shepard took noticed. "What?" Sheaprd asked.
"One thing different about my John, he never believed like I did" Ashley explained, giving a slight laugh.
Shepard chuckled to this as well. "Funny you say that, because I didn't, you made me a believer ash"
"So what now?"
Shepard wanted more answers first, but with her being pregnant he didn't want to pressure her into anything at the moment. "Will run with the amnesia story, but I still want answers later" Shepard explained and she nodded. He sat up about to leave the room. "I'll be back to check on you in the morning" But before he could leave, Shepard turned back to his wife, that was still his wife in his eyes. "By the way, what's a reaper?"
…..
Jane was happy at being able to see her brother and nephew again, almost as happy as seeing Kaidan. But she knew that wasn't the real reason she was here. She had to convince her Twin brother about her secret cause before he made it back to earth. She was waiting in her brother's quarters when the door slid open.
"Auntie Jane" Tyler yelled in excitement, rushing towards her.
"Hay there little guy, you've grown so big since the last time I saw you" Jane loved her nephew; he was probably the only thing keeping her brother form going over the edge.
"They found mommy Aunt Jane"
Jane smiled to this, it was the first time she was hearing it. "Is that so, I never doubted to your dad would find her" Jane assured, as she hugged her Nephew, thanking god that they found her sister in law.
"Mr. Kaidan found her" Tyler correct, as that made Jane smile even more.
"Well, he is a smart man. Now come on, you should probably get some sleep while I wait on your dad" Jane explained, as she carried Tyler to his room. Her brothers quarters in the carrier were after all a family sized quarters, with three rooms, one being a guest room where she spent Jane would sleep whenever she visited.
"But I'm not sleepy" Tyler complained in Jane's arms, which made her chuckle.
"Oh but I am, after all I took a long Trip getting here. I'll spend more time with you tomorrow" Jane explained, tucking him in bed in his room.
"Promise?" Tyler asked
"Promise" Jane assured, giving her nephew a pinkie swear.
With Tyler sound asleep, Jane waited for her brother In the main living quarter. The door slid open, and Jane Rushed to hug her Brother.
"Oh John, I'm so happy for you, how is She?" Jane asked like the concern sister she was.
When John came out of his Sisters hug, he took a deep breath, giving her the full details, well at least the semi full details.
"She…she has amnesia." John said bitterly.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry John" She wanted to hug her brother again, but he stopped her.
"She can remember some, but not all. I'm going to spend a lot of time helping her" He explained.
"Of course, Mom wants you to contact her, you want me to do it instead, I can pass whatever information she has for you along"
"No…I'll take the call myself. I know it's been a while, but I just need some time alone" He explained, walking past Jane.
"Of course, will talk tomorrow, if you want I can take Tyler off your hands"
John looked back towards Jane, as he stood from the master bedroom. "Thanks sis, will catch up later"
With John gone Jane stood in the guest room, making contact with the man she still hated seeing.
"Shepard" The voice spoke through the comm. "I trust you have your brother on our side?"
"Illusive man, pleasure as always, and no, I just got here" Jane explained, sitting on the bed in the guest room.
"Your Brother Is a Marshal, and with a seat being opened up In the council soon. He will I assure you take its place. If he will not do it, than you need to make sure you take that seat" The illusive man explained, and that just made her skin crawl.
"First, I will not under no circumstance kill my own Brother, and Second I'm not a Marshal, so I can't be appointed for the Federal council" Jane whispered loudly towards the illusive man, Making sure not to be overheard.
"No, but within the families right with his passing you would be appointed Marshal" He explained, but Jane was not going to hear none of it.
"As I said, I will never do anything to harm my brother" Jane hissed.
"Then you have two choices, convince him to join are cause, or find away to get his rank stripped" With that the comm. was cut.
Jane didn't want to hurt her brother, but she knew how important this op was. There is a growing threat within the galaxy, and humanity needs to bring peace with the other races to be ready to face that. Cerberus sees that, and they know the Federation is the one hope for this galaxy. That's why they need someone within the council to turn the tide in Cerberus's favor.
…..
Shepard didn't know what his mother wanted, she was in the Federal Council, and so it had to be big. But If Jane was here to remind him, than it could be something even more personal. For now though he would keep the fate of Ashley secret from his mother. HE started the channel back towards Sol Command. His mother, Councilor Hannah Shepard was on the screen immediately.
"John, my son it's about time you got back to me" Hannah said, looking happy to hear from John, maybe it was a personal call after all. "How's my Grandson doing?" She asked.
"Good mom, I don't me to be blunt, but what's this about?"
Hannah sighed at the sight of her son being straight to business, but let it pass for now. "I'll be Frank Son, the council doesn't like the actions Council Overseer Udina's been taking in preparation with an all out assault on Turian space" She explained, which puzzled John, didn't everyone want this assault.
"But Mo…councilor, isn't that assault what the Federation has been begging for?"
"Yes son it is, but you have to understand, the turians are the only ones left with a matching fleet against the Federation. Where confident the Federation will be victorious, but at too high of a cost at this moment. Besides there's another problem the council is worried about that the Overseer has been ignoring for too long"
"Which is?" John asked, never hearing of this other situation.
"Are forward strongholds in the terminus system have been going silent. Every time we investigate the bases that do so, they're empty, but as if everyone just vanished. The council needs to reinforce our terminus front, but in order to do so we need to throw Overseer Udina out of office. Which gives us an open seat on the council for a Marshal to take" Hannah explained. Everything started making since to John now.
"Mom, I'm not fit for a seat on the council. Why not pick Marshal Hackett?" John asked, He was already the youngest appointed marshal, which could only be appointed by the council, and answered only to the Federal council.
"Steve was the one who recommended you Son, please if you won't do this for me, than do this for your son. To give him a steady lifestyle" Hannah begged.
It took John a long moment to think about this, but she was right. Tyler needed a peaceful lifestyle, and to give this New Ashley that could end up being just liked the wife he remembered a chance. "Okay, I'll do it"